Redeeming Petty Vices

Sugar. It's been part of every discouraged conversation I've had this week. Women feeling weak, stressed, ashamed over their vice. 

Friends, we all have them, the things we turn to when emotions run high and we're hurting. Usually that item is the first one my challengers try to quit cold turkey as they get started on their health journey, but guess what? Life doesn't get easier because we made a commitment to our health. It keeps going on throwing unexpected expenses, sickness, flat tires, you name it! Without the things we normally turn to it feels more painful than usual. We begin to believe the lie we can't do this, it's too hard. We binge. We feel shame. We binge again.

Your health journey is your own. It's not going to look like anyone else's. It's about you healing from the inside out and that's a lot of work! Analyzing your emotions and gut reactions, taking responsibility for your thoughts and behavior, committing to growth, those are the things that matter long term. Simply quitting your vice won't help because the pain will remain, you have to deal with it. And if you ARE dealing with it, using your vice here and there to help you cope is ok because one day you're going to wake up and not NEED it to get through day! You'll be happy and healthy inside and out! Those treats you're using for self medication will transform back to treats when you've done the work.

So don't beat yourself up over your weaker moments, arise out of them with the knowledge that you are growing and healing and it's HARD but you're not giving up! Remember we all have pain and unhealthy ways we are coping. Just like it's ok to have a pain killer after surgery or a crutch after a broke leg, it's ok to have a vice, just be working towards the day you don't need it anymore.

Practice not running to it immediately. Being willing to feel the pain for a moment and process what's causing it and why it hurts before you numb it. 

And after, reject the shame. Acknowledge that even using the vice is part of how you've learned to care for yourself and acknowledge that you are working towards better methods and working towards healing! 

You are not a failure because you need help, you are human.