We have all experienced that oh so wonderful moment when we have left the table from our third helping of turkey and stuffing (no pun intended)
And we slowly crawl to the couch for a mid-day nap; many of us have also enjoyed what some like to call ‘The Nightmare Before Thanksgiving’ or the day before the holiday – when a large segment of the population goes out and celebrates their brief escape from reality and/ or the daily grind.
And there is nothing wrong with treating yourself; life is to be lived right?
Well, the question to ask yourself is, are you treating yourself on the holidays? Or just occasionally? Are you enjoying that celebration of a wonderful time shared with family and friends? Or, have you created a very intelligent and complex system of excuses for hiding a problem that could potentially hurt you in the long run?
I guess one way you can answer that easily is to look and see if the holidays are coming every week! Ouch.
But seriously, it is not a question of right or wrong but rather becoming consciously aware of whether you are making choices that allow you to be healthy and happy or if you are getting buried alive in problems that are becoming less and less clear to the reason you doing them.
When we catch ourselves binge eating or drinking, in most cases it is because there is a problem that we have been choosing to cover up or ignore. To overcome the bad feelings we search for something that makes us feel better and we choose our vice.
The problem arises when the vice has to be increased over and over.
So here are some suggestions that have worked for my clients in the past and may work for you too
- Before you choose to have your second helping of food or your second drink – check in and see why you are doing it? This is not only good for helping you address a potential problem, but it will also enrich the experience you are having
- Set a limit (or make a plan) to what you eat, drink or whatever well before you put yourself in the situation. It’s like shopping when you are hungry…. This will give you objectivity
- Have fun… Don’t take life too seriously but be aware! The choices you make do make a difference and they shape you. Each one (no matter how little) adds up to equal your character
If you do find that you have a problem that feels too big to handle on your own, ask for help! You can always email me at info@brettbaughman.com and I will be happy to speak with you.
I wish you happy and safe holiday season!
Brett Baughman is an author, success coach, public speaker and founder of The Winner’s Circle. Learn more about him at BrettBaughman.com
Joshua Spencer says
Aaron Guyett, I think I'm using Apple Fritters to cover up the pain of being homeless 🙂 No, seriously, AMAZING post! "The choices you make…adds up to equal your character." Now if that doesn't give you pause for some sober thought, I don't know what will.