I think this is the million dollar question!  Why don’t we do the things we know are going to make us feel nourished, more fulfilled and healthier?  My answer is that it’s different for different people because everyone has their own unique experiences and circumstances.

I don’t do the things that are good for me because sometimes it’s easier to fall into old patterns because they’re more comfortable.  Maybe I think I don’t deserve those good things because I’m not a size 6.  I could go on for hours but I encourage you to think about what may be holding you back from living a more fulfilled and joyful life and please share your thoughts in the comments.  I’d love to hear from you!

Last night was the first night of Passover, the Jewish holiday where no leavened bread is eaten and matzoh is substituted.  This is a type of restriction even though there is a substitute.  We all know that restriction (of any type) leads to a binge.  Therein lies the dilemma…to restrict bread or not?

I think the decision depends on the person so here are a few questions to ask yourself.  Are you religious?  Does the meaning behind the ritual mean something to you besides just doing what you’ve always done, what’s expected or because other people think you should?  Does restricting bread feel like deprivation?  Does eating matzoh for 7 days make you feel good physically?  Do you need to observe the “no bread” thing for the entire 7 days?  After answering these questions, the decision can be made.

I will be having matzoh and the traditional meals made with it but if I want leavened bread, I will have it.  But, I know I won’t be perfect because that’s not what I strive for anymore and that’s good enough for me.  🙂

I know, I know.  I write A LOT about emotions because I’ve suppressed mine for so long that feeling them is fascinating.  That’s why I write about them so much.

So, here’s the question:

Can you name 8 emotions?

I believe you’ll find that this isn’t as easy as you think.   Share your answers in the comments, please….I’d love to know what you’re feeling  😉

I have been crying a lot lately – it’s a normal part of processing and transforming, so I’m told.  It’s interesting how your face changes and how your body feels after a good cry.  I notice that my eyes become a deep green even though they are red-rimmed.  What do you notice when you cry?

My VERY wise friend says that, when someone says something critical, they aren’t criticizing the person but the action.  Our first inclination in these situations is to personalize the criticism and make it about the person but it’s really not about that.  There are so many reasons why people criticize and most of them have nothing to do with the one being criticized.  It goes back to having a strong sense of self-worth to minimize the effect of the criticism. Too bad it’s not so easy to remember in the heat of the moment.

There are many emotions that we don’t want to feel but not wanting to feel them is like not wanting our true selves to emerge.  If we are our feelings and we avoid them, then we avoid ourselves.  Additionally, the things we do to avoid the emotions is a form of self-hate since many of them are destructive.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there isn’t a healthy way to avoid our emotions without avoiding or hurting ourselves.