3 Ways to Change Your Perception to Change Your Eating Behavior

3 Ways to Change Your Perception to Change Your Eating Behavior

My biggest breakthroughs in binge eating happened when I really realized that I needed to change my internal perceptions, not external behaviors.

Because perceptions drive behavior, it's like a ninja move.

So the next question is: How do you change your perception?

There are three key things I have found to change my perception.

One of the best ways I've found is to do things that are radically outside of my normal habits, routines, or behaviors.When I do this, I then return to the familiar routines, but I have slightly changed my perception.

This could mean indulging in my favorite food with candles, music, etc. and making it a big event. Or it could mean finding a homeless shelter and handing out soup on a rainy afternoon. Or go to a workshop to meet new people and surround myself with other ideas. Whatever it is, I know that when I get into trouble, I have to be responsible for changing my condition so that I can change my thoughts. Typically, the physical state is the easiest to change, as emotional states are much more difficult to manipulate.

Second, I had to honestly give myself compassion and permission to eat what I really wanted.I started by giving myself a week to eat whatever I wanted - with the guideline of eating when I'm hungry and noticing when it subtly feels like "enough." Like everything, this takes practice. I go through ups and downs with this but remember that I am human. Now I tend to stick to the same breakfast and lunch which is healthy. For dinner or dessert, I choose one thing that I really want and look forward to it at the end of the day. I only have enough in my house for about 2 evenings so I can't go down a hole too much.

Third (the longest and most difficult), I poured into self-help materials and courses long enough to realize that I am more than my body.It sounds cliché, but this is a big problem.

When you refer to yourself as someone who has a unique gift to contribute to the world, you focus on a larger playing field. Food can be a pleasant distraction that makes you want to play a smaller game. It's easy to get caught up in beating yourself up. The alternative is to go out into the world as the greatest version of yourself and act as if every day could be your last. Say what you really care about and find out how you can do what you've dreamed of but never thought you would actually do. These things take more time, energy and thought than thinking about food.

Is there anything fascinating about you that's new or unusual that you could try this week to mix things up a bit?

Inspired by Chelsea Lorynn O'Brien