What’s most important to you in your relationships with others? For some people it’s honesty, or empathy, a certain value system, or a great sense of humor. Maybe it’s the other person’s ability to finish your sentences when you’re too upset to do it yourself.
Step back in your mind for a minute or two and think about the people you love, people whose company you really enjoy. Got a few people in mind?
Now ask yourself these questions. [private_membership circle] Do you require that they be thin in order for you to enjoy their company? Or do you love them and enjoy their company no matter what size or shape they happen to be on any given day?
Now think about the judgments you make about yourself. When you’re invited to a social event is your very first thought,”Uh,oh, what size was I the last time I was those particular people out in public? I can’t go because I’ve gained weight since then”… or is it, “Gee, that sounds like fun!”
What judgments and assumptions have you imposed upon yourself? What meaning are you giving to what you weigh? Somewhere along the way did you decide that you only deserved to enjoy a good life if you weighed a certain weight? Are those self-imposed limitations preventing you from being fully alive?
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Ellen Shuman is a Life Coach who specializes in emotional and binge eating issues. She is the founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Eating Disorder Treatment, Vice President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and Co-Chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com
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