The first book I wrote is called Self-Fullness: The Art of Loving and Caring for Your ‘Self’. In that book I gave the reader permission to take care of herself without feeling guilty. Having permission to take care of themselves to put themselves first, liberated them and made then better wives, mothers, sisters, people. I have heard the same about food and eating. A struggle people share is that they feel it is not okay to eat. That it is not okay to love food. They feel like somehow if they were to admit they love food and they gave themselves permission to eat whatever they want, they would eat and eat like there is no tomorrow. They fear gluttony will rule the day. In fact, just the opposite tends to happen. After an initial free-for-all because they truly don’t believe that they can eat whatever they want, people eat less. The find their personal balance between eating and wanting to eat. If you are stuck on your mindful journey because you still don’t feel as if it is okay to live the way I am suggesting, I give you permission to do so. I give you permission to love food. I give you permission to end your mindless eating and embrace mindful eating. I give you permission to take care of yourself, to do what is right for you regardless of what others may think, to believe in yourself and to honor all parts of yourself and your body. I give you permission to honor your physical and emotional hungers. I give you permission to buy, prepare and eat the foods that sing to you. I give you permission to trust yourself to do the best you can, when you can without judgment or self-recrimination. I give you permission to be mindful in all you do. Adapted from Mindful Bites – Joyful Life: 365 Days of Mindful Eating. Available in bookstores everywhere.
I Give You Permission
