The Importance of Celebrating
Why it's important to celebrate progress as you become a Peaceful Eater.
I talk a lot about celebrating success with my clients as they overcome binge eating. Why is it so important? Because the brain is always looking for evidence for what it believes is true. This part of our brain is called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) - it's the filter in our brain that helps us decide what is important and what to focus on.
The RAS is always at work. If we don't consciously direct it where to go, it will often focus on the problems, the pain, and wanting to seek pleasure or relief from any discomfort.
Celebrating is a great way to put our RAS to work in a very beneficial way. We are asking ourselves:
What went right?
How am I improving?
What wins can I celebrate today?
Where am I one step closer to my goal?
We can look for ALL of the ways in which we are improving or doing the things that will help us get towards our goals. We can develop the HABIT of celebrating ourselves, of finding wins even in difficult situations or when we don't show up the way we want to.
But it has to be intentional. Try asking yourself to celebrate 3 wins each day, no matter what. They can be big or small. Put your RAS to work on celebrating yourself more.
Progress You Might Not Be Celebrating
What are some examples of progress that you might not be celebrating?
Eating less food than usual
Having more awareness during a binge or overeating episode
Reconnecting with yourself afterwards sooner
Being able to see how the binge/overeat makes sense
Noticing a change in your typical pattern
Speaking more kindly to yourself afterwards
Each time you celebrate you get a little hit of dopamine and your brain will want more of that. That’s the kind of dopamine we want to generate!
Join me inside the Peaceful Eater community for resources and support as you develop a new relationship with food and yourself. Next week is our upcoming workshop where you can create a new experience with the food of your choice.