"If you don't love it, don't eat it. And if you love it, savor it." — Evelyn Tribole
With the holidays right around the corner, you might have finances on your mind.
Gifts, party outfits, glazed hams...
There's a lot to budget for.
But even though you'll probably be spending more money on "fun stuff" over the next two months than you do the rest of the year,
I'm willing to bet that you'll still pay your rent/mortgage and utility bills.
Because it's personal finance 101.
ONCE your living expense are covered THEN you get to decide how you want to use the remainder of your funds...your "discretionary spending" as they say.
Some people will use their "fun money" for travel and experiences.
Others will use it for techy gadgets.
And others will use it for fancy purses and shoes.
When you spend your extra cash on stuff you REALLY enjoy, it feels good.
But when you "blow it" on impulse purchases or get pressured to splurge on things you can't really afford or don't even like all that much, it tends to feel pretty crappy (hello buyer's remorse).
And it's no different with your eating habits.
If you know how to "budget" correctly, there can and should always be room for "fun foods" in your eating plan.
And when you are intentional about carving out space in your budget for the fun foods that you LOVE, it feels good to eat them.
But when you "impulse eat", snack on "meh" foods just because they're there, or eat to the point of physical discomfort, it doesn't feel so great.
Because when your eating habits are out of alignment with your personal values, the kind of woman you want to be and the kind of life you want for yourself, feelings of shame and guilt are bound to show up.
And the important distinction to make is that,
These negative feelings that come up have nothing to do with food.
They are a reflection of our disappointment in ourselves when we SAY one thing and then DO another,
And make choices that are OUT of alignment with the woman we want to become.
Like when you SAY you're "just going to have one glass" of wine, but then finish the entire bottle.
Or when you SAY you are going to order the salad, but when the waiter comes around "burger" is the first word out of your mouth.
Or when you SAY you're going to Target just to get batteries, but then walk out $300 poorer (and forgetting the batteries).
So, as you're thinking about your holiday spending budget,
I encourage you to also think about your holiday eating budget.
How will YOU choose to use your "discretionary funds"?
Are you all about the desserts?
Or do you prefer the savory dishes like stuffing and mashed potatoes?
What choices would feel GOOD for you, both in the moment AND after the fact?
Is it going to feel good to completely pass on your aunt's famous pecan pie?
Or would it feel better to have one slice, but not go back for seconds?
And most importantly,
What choices will keep you IN alignment with your personal values, the kind of woman you want to be and the kind of life you want for yourself?
Is your BEST self a woman who never eats cake?
Or is she a woman who mindfully savors a piece of cake when she wants to AND easily declines when she doesn't?
So, you could see the holiday season as a "challenging" time,
OR
You could see it as an "opportune" time.
Because there are so many opportunities to make NEW choices, to practice BEING your best self and living IN alignment with your values and your vision for your future.
And for this reason,
I'm thinking of putting together a light, short program to help you make those new, aligned choices that you want to make WHILE ALSO putting you in a great position to hit the ground running with your healthy habits in the new year.
This program is still in the beginning stages, but if this sounds like something you'd be interested in,
Please take a minute to complete this quick survey so that I can craft a program that best suits your needs.
Comments