Lately, the idea of triggers has been coming up quite a bit. And, whenever something comes up over and over again, I take that as a sign that it’s time to dig a little deeper.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, actually.
The reality is this – you can spend your entire life keeping away from your triggers like the plague or you could accept them. Dig into them. Deal with them head on. Find the lesson in them.
Why don’t we consider me and nutella for example. For years and years, I stayed away from it mainly because if I didn’t, I’d eat the entire jar. And then, once I initially started off on the intuitive eating journey in the spring of 2007, nutella was one of the first foods I worked on legalizing. And quickly, very quickly, that turned out to be permission to binge to the tune of a loaf of bread along with a jar of nutella.
Ultimately, I was able to make peace with nutella. Today, I am able to keep jars of it in the house, together with about 12 different varieties of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nuts, nut butters, fried fruit – you name it – I am not anymore like a moth to the flame.
I can also read “diet” guides, look at myself in the mirror naked and feel real love for my size 14 curves, read through the blogs of individuals who go on diets, speak with clients who are dieting, study nutritional information – you name it – I rarely discover a food related so-called trigger any longer.
And after i do discover a trigger, rather than saying “oh, that’s a trigger for me so I must avoid it at all costs” – I dig in and learn why it is a trigger. I ask myself questions like:
Just what am I afraid will happen were I to go there?
What would it say about me if what I’m afraid will happen does take place?
And exactly why does the idea of that bother me so much?
And once i discover the answers to these questions, I’m able to work through the actual concern rather than just keeping away from whatever it is.
I’ll offer you a good, food-related example.
I have been working with a Naturopath for several months now. Her recommendations usually incorporate dietary changes as well as self-care information and homeopathic remedies.
I will be the first to tell you that the dietary advice of my Naturopath were triggering to me initially – even just a few months ago. But, based on my prior experience, I realize that her ideas are in line with what I have come to understand about my body, anyway.
Consequently, if doing what is appropriate for my body is triggering, this means I’m still punishing myself with food. It doesn’t suggest I need to keep away from her suggestions, it indicates I need to dig deeper into why I’m sabotaging myself by consuming food that I realize doesn’t give good results for my own body.
And so, of course, I’ve been engaging in that work. And it’s amazing to me the junk that nevertheless rises to the surface whenever I ask myself those questions, after i get genuinely truthful with myself about what it all means and when i quit staying away from my triggers.
When all I do is avoid the trigger, I’m just postponing my own healing.
In my experience, this is just one of the numerous layers that standard “count this count that” diets are unable to give you. They tell you to keep away from those foods like the plague. Never get them again. When you truly want ice cream, go out for it – don’t keep it in the house. If you’d like chocolate, just have a really small amount. Peanut butter can be the devil. Run, run far far away.
Restrict. Repent. Repeat.
I say, go into the darkness in order that you can discover the light.
Inspired by this article from Christie Inge? Want to participate in her 21-day body love jump start program? Visit her site, Body Love Jump Start for more information on how you can stop hating your body.