Here are some things to chew on as you tackle another busy week, because developing an awareness of our mindset is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.
How do you talk to yourself? Are you a cheerleader or a critic? Write down the stream of thought patterns you routinely have when you look in the mirror or when you eat food to build an awareness of the tone of your internal narrative. No one talks to us as much as we do and our attitude toward ourselves is very influential. Quite often, we tend toward a conversation that is skeptical and negative. This will eventually translate into our actions and it rarely leads anywhere productive. What might it look like to shift that conversation toward one of encouragement and optimism? Building awareness is the first step toward determining what changes need to take place that will enable growth.
What is one way you can show respect toward the incredible body you live in right now? Assess what small needs you can meet through the way your structure your day. Does your body need fed more consistently so it has more energy? Maybe a time of stillness so it can be restored? What form of movement will be most refreshing to it today? Building respect for our bodies just as they are is countercultural, but it’s a practice that creates a solid foundation for our wellbeing.
In what ways could you strengthen the influences around you? Where are you getting your nutrition information? What kind of messaging are you receiving in your social media feed? The things we routinely surround ourselves with strongly shape how we perceive ourselves and the legitimacy of our beliefs about food. It’s important to assess our resources and make sure they are evidenced-based and enhancing our quality of life. Here are some tips on how to weed out the junk in your Google searches.
.org, .gov and .edu are generally websites that are more likely to contain legitimate information.
For topics regarding nutrition, look for content authored by someone with an RD after their name, indicating they are a registered dietitian. RD’s are considered to be the leaders in the field of nutrition, and their education in this area is more robust than even most medical doctors. Another important detail to note is that the term “Registered Dietitian” is a legally backed term, whereas the term “Nutritionist” is not. Therefore, just because someone is a “nutritionist” does not necessarily mean they are a “registered dietitian.”
Be skeptical of anything that carries an extreme message or recommendation. The science of nutrition is relatively young and we are always learning new things. There is no perfect food or way of doing things. At the end of the day, the answer typically lies in the middle and anyone making strong claims (such as, “cut out all carbs” or “dairy is bad for you” or “don’t eat past 7pm”) is likely failing to consider important aspects of our well-being and operating apart from proper science.
