Heal Emotional Eating with Help from Your Wise Self
What if you already had what you needed to heal emotional eating?
What if all the answers to your questions were right inside of you?
What if your own inner wisdom could guide you to a a more confident you?
Meet… your Wise Self. Welcome this Divine being as they guide you to take better care of yourself and your body and help you live a happy, healthy life.
Who is your Wise Self? People refer to this spiritual power in different ways. It has been called the Inner Advisor, Spiritual Guide, Higher Self, or Divine Light. I like to call it my Wise Self because, like an imaginary friend to a child, she is my mentor, someone I call forth in my mind—a strong, down-to-earth woman who is all-knowing, wise, and loving and whose guidance is always available whenever I ask.
Here’s the thing: You probably already know your Wise Self. For example, when you feel an intuitive “knowing” about something, get those gut feelings encouraging you in a certain direction, or when flashes of insight come to you. Perhaps you meditate, regularly communicate with your body’s wisdom, or connect with a spiritual figure or Goddess. If so, then you’re probably already receiving guidance from that powerful Divine energy within.
Why Many People Struggle
Most people look outside of themselves to heal from emotional eating and body image challenges. They learn about healthy nutrition and proper exercise. While all of that is important, healing emotional eating and developing body confidence is so much more than eating the right foods and finding the right exercises. There is no one “right” way to overcome these challenges. To let go of the struggle, you must open yourself to the guidance that resides within you to find your way.
We all have so much information inside of us that we don’t use because we’re either blocked from seeing it or rigidly hold onto familiar—and often limiting—beliefs that prevent change. Connecting with your Wise Self helps you move beyond the limitations of your conscious mind. It’s as if a mental fog lifts and you open to a wealth of wisdom inside you that is readily available as soon as you get out of your own way.
For example, Joanne would binge on chocolate chip cookies when she felt lonely. One night after eating to the point of discomfort, Joanne cried out to her Wise Self and asked, “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I stop?”
Joanne heard her Wise Self say, “There is nothing wrong with you, sweetheart. It’s just a habit. It doesn’t define who you are.”
Joanne had always been ashamed about using food to quell her emotions. As she heard her Wise Self’s message, a peaceful warmth entered her heart. Something shifted. The pattern of emotional eating continued for a while, but Joanne could hold onto her self-worth when it happened. As she regularly asked her Wise Self for help to become more self-loving and accepting, her need to use food to cope eventually lessened.
How Your Wise Self Works In Your Life
When you communicate with your Wise Self, you invite transformative energies into your life that can inspire you to take good care of yourself and your body. Your Wise Self knows you. They understand the fears and struggles you’ve experienced. They can help you move through obstacles and offer you suggestions that may not be obvious to you when you’re afraid.
Think of your Wise Self as your loving partner, always by your side, who can assist you through difficult times or reassure you that you’re on the right path. Ask for their guidance and they’ll suggest strategies, insights and resources for your success- along with love and reinforcement for you to follow through.
A Simple Practice to Connect with Your Wise Self
It’s not hard to communicate and start receiving guidance. To give it a try, just find a quiet place with no distractions and follow these eight steps:
1. Sit or lie back in a comfortable position and close your eyes
2. Focus on your breathing for a few moments to relax and settle yourself.
3. Imagine you’re sitting with a kind, wise being who loves you and only wants to support and guide you. Or, simply draw your attention to that quiet space within.
4. Then ask, “What will help me comfort myself without turning to food?”
5. Listen.
6. If you don’t hear anything, that’s okay. Merely asking the question sets in motion energies to receive back whispers of wisdom, perhaps in a day or longer. The important thing is to keep asking. If you do hear something, be sure to follow through on it.
7. Have no judgment. Even if what you heard sounds simple or is a familiar suggestion, don’t underestimate the power of your inner voice. Sometimes those seemingly small steps we’re encouraged to take turn into permanent, healthy habits.
8. Thank your Wise Self for her help.
May the light of your inner Wise Woman shine brightly and guide your healing journey.
(Photo Credit: Nature Goddess: www.flickr.com/photos/katmary/)
