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!
I was thinking about this the other day. There is a definite voice of goodwill in my head. That tells me to do things that I know are good for me. Eat in a balanced way, move my body, challenge negative thoughts/emotions, connect with the earth and my friends. But it’s like the paths toward self destructive behaviors are so well travelled that my brain/body/soul go on this path, as if on autopilot.
The other day, I didn’t have to work but I wanted to run some errands. I strapped my daughter in the car, buckled myself in, and started to drive. I had every intention of going shopping for rugs, something I was looking forward to. But about 20 min later, I realized I’d been driving toward work! It was like my brain was so accustomed to this route, that despite my best intentions I was driving the opposite way. I was now in familiar territory, but completely lost. I had no idea how to get from where I was to where I wanted to be. I used my gps to find my way.
This is how I feel sometimes on this journey to health. Autopilot to an undesired location. Over, and over, and over again.