BIG topic for me as of late. How often do I follow through with the things I set out to do? From the outside, nobody would be the wiser if you didn’t follow through with them. No one lives inside your head. Praise Jesus that nobody hears my swirling thoughts!
This month I decided I would lean into the discomfort of eliminating sugar from my diet. I am going on a mission trip overseas next month. Making the commitment for me to go was one of faith. Going off sugar was another way to affirm I can do things that make me uncomfortable and ultimately serve in a higher way. Will it help me get healthier for my trip, absolutely. However, my sister didn’t see the correlation between going off sugar and going to help people over seas. In my calculation, it has everything to do with it.. an interesting dialogue ensued.
I didn’t decide until a few days before the beginning of the month that I was going to hold myself to the full 30 day commitment. Full disclosure, I already lean in this direction of no sugar on a regular basis because I feel amazing when it is not in my body but even I needed a little kick in the pants to not stray as much as I started to. What I learned even early on in the process of day 5 was that doing no sugar had actually nothing to do with food. It has everything to do with honoring myself, the things that I lean into to grow. I revere the steps I take to show up for myself. Light bulb moment for me was when I realized that I couldn’t hold people accountable for commitments to me if I didn’t first believe I could do the same for myself.
The biggest thing I have learned so far is how to start working on the emotional response that comes up in relation to the physiological changes in my body. Sweets would be a soothing response to a stressful situation. I have to actually have to work through my thoughts in a given situation because I no longer can use the sugar as a crutch to avoid the feelings. I was blown away when I finally realized this.
I’m not complaining about not having sugar, or how it has affected my meal prep to honor my commitment it is just a steadfast truth that it currently is not a reality for me to eat sweets. By choosing something for yourself and then being so steadfast in the direction of that goal there is no room for negotiation.
Now nobody should feel punished.. So if you are reading this and giving up sugar sounds like a death sentence then we need to find other areas for you to lean into that can help you grow into trusting yourself. I believe I can show up for myself, for my longevity and because God created me in his image and likeness. Joyce Meyer mentions in a sermon that you are more than your emotions. Another mind blown moment for me. Going off sugar with Joyce’s sermon has allowed me to detach the discomfort and sometimes displeasure of my food choices with the beautiful blessings of stepping into something that has a ton of factual health benefits. I no longer take my hunger or cravings as a sign this is hard and unpleasant. I used to judge my feelings and then make an excuse as to why I should break the commitment to myself. NO NO NO NO. I now acknowledge the feelings I have and put no judgment on them. They hold no value.. why? Because we are more than our feelings- Joyce for the win!
Nobody feels like they have to console me or offer to help me because I am carrying myself in such a way that leads people to believe that I am capable and confident in showing up for myself. The more you show up for yourself, the more confidence you develop and the more you become the person you supposed to be.
Every time you break a promise to yourself even on a micro level, it starts to eat away at your subconscious. I’m not arguing I haven’t opted to sleep in rather than keep my agreement to get up and go to the gym. What I am saying is now I acknowledge and re-frame how I perceive that situation and if going to the gym was actually the right goal to have set. No excuses just an honest and factual based assessment. The more you can keep your micro commitments to yourself, the more you will recognize larger opportunities to do the same thing. Opportunities are all around us.. you only recognize them when you start seeing the world of possibilities that you believe you are capable of participating in.