And they all lived a pretty darn good life with some ups and downs ever after
Oy. Kinda didn’t want to post today. I’m a little sad. Or maybe the word is bummed. Whatever. I’m not feeling so great.
One of the best things about getting my food under control, is that I have all of this clarity. It’s also one of the worst things. I have to feel my feelings. I really have to. There is no way around it. And that is difficult for me.
But it’s also difficult for other people.
And there is a “good girl” who lives inside me and wants everybody to like her. And wants everybody to be impressed by her. And wants to make everybody happy and comfortable. Even if it is at her own expense.
I have talked about this before. The “good girl” is that willingness to sacrifice myself for everybody else. It was a replacement for self-esteem. It’s something like it, but it is not, in fact, self-esteem. It never felt good to get my value from the level of neglect I could inflict on myself for the comfort of others. But it was the most valuable I thought I could be at the time, so I was a “good girl”.
And I was filled with resentment. I hated people. How dare they treat me like a doormat just because I laid down in front of them! And I dealt with that resentment with food. Sugar. Enough sugar to get me high enough to forget that I hated people and myself and my life.
But after years of that, it started taking a lot more sugar. A 300lb body worth of sugar.
So now I have to feel my feelings. I have to feel all of them. I cry when I need to cry. I have to. I don’t have any other options.
Of course, that is not entirely true. I could eat. I could eat a chocolate cake. But the problem is that I know that chocolate cake doesn’t last. Except in my fat cells.
But it wouldn’t make me feel better for long. And it wouldn’t make me feel good about myself. And I wouldn’t be able to stop.
Like I said, though. This level of clarity is one of the best parts of getting control of my eating. I know not to stifle my feelings. Even if they make other people uncomfortable. I know feelings will pass if I let them out. I know that being unhappy is part of life. And I know that I am actually living a happy life with some normal, natural bouts of unhappiness.
I am ok. I’m fine. I’m actually even better than that. I’m whole and complete. I’m in touch with my head, my heart, my soul and my body.
I don’t like writing about being emotional. Somewhere my “good girl” is cringing and asking how I expect to be an inspiration, or even just helpful, if I talk about being unhappy even though I have my eating under control.
But life is life. And I believe that honesty is inspirational. And helpful. And getting control of my food is still the greatest thing I have ever done for myself. Even if it doesn’t lead to “happily ever after”. Which I believed in for a long time, even though I was sure I knew that it was just a fairy tale. It turns out I just believed it was for other people, and not me.
Now I can see that I have spent the last 7+ years moving ever closer to as near to “happily ever after” as it is possible to be. Honesty, honor, integrity, and love. With myself and others.
Loved this! Are you kidding? “I know feelings will pass if I let them out.” That is beautiful!! I didn’t know that — or remember it, anyway!
Also, the way you describe the devil’s bargain we people-pleasers make with ourselves — I hurt me so you’ll like me? I loved this — being a “good girl” was an ineffective substitute for self-esteem. Right — it actually lowers my self-esteem; and like any addiction, it was a bottomless pit, requiring more and more self-neglect to supposedly “earn” approval.
I just loved how you put this: “It never felt good to get my value from the level of neglect I could inflict on myself for the comfort of others.”
and you’re right — honesty IS inspirational.
Peace to you and thanks for lighting the way,
Susanne
Thank you, Susanne! I’m grateful to know that you understand and identify. And I’m with you about needing to neglect myself more and more for the same approval. Ugh. So grateful for my self -respect! 🙂