Today we have a blog post from one of our Master’s level interns, Grace Clibourn, about navigating food around the holidays. Grace finds it a great honor to walk alongside those who are experiencing hardship.
Her counseling approach is rooted in the sense of hopefulness, and therapy with her feels light, compassionate, and empowering. Understanding that life can be unpredictable; Grace creates an environment that is free of shame and built on a sense of peace.
She believes each person holds within themselves the ability to live a life full of meaning and purpose, no matter the symptoms they may be experiencing today. Grace believes that everyone deserves to have a place to let it out in the presence of someone who is safe, genuine, and caring.
Food and the Holidays: Shifting Your Focus
It is officially that time of the year. Colder weather, hot chocolate, tables filled with goodies, and people gathering once again. This time of year may be filled with joy in anticipation of seeing our loved ones and eating our favorite Christmas cookies, but it may also be a season of dysregulation in anticipation of strained relationships and may be potentially be distressing if you are in recovery from disordered eating or an eating disorder, or are working on your relationship with food.
No matter what this season has meant for you in the past, this is the year to define the season for yourself! For those who are still healing their relationship with food, this time of year may come with a plethora of stressors. Diet culture, around this time of year, likes to shout about calorie counting, over-exercising, skipping meals, saving calories, and labeling certain foods as “good or bad”. But here at Anchored Counseling Co., we believe in cultivating peace and confidence in your relationship with food.
Shifting Your Focus
For many people who struggle with body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders, potlucks and counters filled with platters of food might bring in a flood of thoughts and emotions. Orienting ourselves to our values can be one method to support yourself if you experience distress with food.
If your mind starts racing wondering what or what not to put on your plate, I encourage you to take a moment to re-prioritize. Remind yourself that you are in the room to enjoy this precious time with friends and family. Shift your focus on the joy, pleasure, connection of the season. To take it a step further, I invite you to allow yourself to enjoy the food on your plate and approach the foods themself with neutrality. Instead of the idea of “good” and “bad” foods, you could try viewing food as just food without morality attached to it and implement the idea of food as a vehicle for connection and joy.
Self-Care
Intentional self-care during the holidays is one way to soothe distress. We are also navigating relationships, finances, balancing our schedules between work hours, and social engagements. So, it is important to take time to care for yourself. This may look like ending each day with some light reading, journaling, a bath, or sitting back with your favorite album on the speaker. Take time for you!
What do you want the holidays to look like this year? Pull out a journal and really think it through:
- Where do you want your focus to be?
- Who are you looking forward to seeing?
- What games are you looking forward to playing?
- Is there a dish you would enjoy contributing to a meal?
- How can you approach mealtimes with food neutrality?
- What is your self-care plan?
Enjoy the holiday season and hot chocolate, and take this opportunity to define the holidays for yourself this year!
Affirmation: “This year, I am shifting my focus off of my plate and on to my loved ones.”
Resource: Becoming Anchored Podcast: Becoming Anchored S6E5: Finding Hope In Body Image Hopelessness
You Got This!
Grace
We hope you found Grace’s insights on shifting your focus around the holidays helpful. If her message resonated with you, this could be the perfect time to take meaningful steps towards your healing and peace. To initiate your work with Grace, please feel free to call our office at 615.510.3797 or click here to learn more.
