We all have different parts to our personality that show up depending on the circumstances
“I know what I need to eat, I know what I need to do, but I just don’t do it. I constantly self-sabotage. It just doesn’t make sense!” Sound familiar?
But is it really self-sabotage? Perhaps it’s just a different part of ourselves showing up while we’re eating?
We all have different parts to our personality that show up depending on the circumstances. For example, when we’re taking care of our children, we might be engaging our “nurturing” part. When we’re in the office, we might be engaged in our “intellectual” parts. When we’re out with friends, we might be engaging our “carefree” parts. All of these personas collectively comprise our personality and we fluctuate between them throughout the day.
When we eat, one of these personas is at the forefront. AWhen it comes to emotional eating, usually the adult persona steps aside, allowing younger parts to (subconsciously) take center stage. In other words, we often revert to a certain age when we emotionally eat. We might become a four-year-old or a 14-year-old, sometimes revisiting an age where a difficulty originally began. So when you feel that you’re sabotaging yourself, it’s because the adult is no longer in charge. The childish part of us seeks immediate gratification without considering future consequences. The young-child voice says, “I want what I want, and I want it now!” The little child wants to eat chocolate and potato chips instead of protein and vegetables for lunch. She doesn’t consider how she might feel if she eats five cupcakes in a row. This part focuses solely on immediate relief, not on the consequences of overeating.
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