Eating beyond full takes us into the vague place where food is no longer about nourishment or need. We enter the milieu of wants and desires and usually it is not food we are wanting or desiring.

To be physically satisfied by our food is a wonderful feeling -one that allows us to enjoy a variety of foods with or with out the company of others. When we learn to eat to satiety and then stop, we can trust ourselves with any type of food or in any type of situation –celebratory or not– for we know from experience that we stop when we are physically full.

For many this season of glitter and glee is veiled with distrust of the body and its desires. If we look more carefully we can begin to see the desires we are trying to fill with food and drink, of any sort, may have more to do with the desires of the heart.

Desires for that holiday of all holidays that never seems to pan out. Or perhaps the love and closeness of a Christmas past that can be felt only as a memory leaving us yearning for something more…

When we don’t fulfill these desires we can tend to get very critical and harsh with ourselves causing an unnecessary blow to an already tender and hurting inner being

This can be a season of great pain for some no matter how joyful on the outside. It is for reasons of the heart that we may do very well to S L O W down and be very, very gentle with ourselves. Take small bites physically and metaphorically and see yourself as a live vulnerable being that is trying –perhaps for the very  first time to enjoy a holiday for what it is, a season of the heart.

Try on a few of these soft cozy links to warm and soothe you:

• Appreciate your body right where it is at today 
• Take a day (or many) to lose the judgement around food (no” good foods” or “bad foods’ just “food”)
• Give yourself permission to simply feel the feelings that arise without having to fix, change or manipulate anything
• Refuse to diet in January, planning a New years diet sets up holiday binging

We all feel joy and the warm glow it provides and it is time to let it out in our own unique and authentic ways. No need to wait until you have a perfect this or that. The only moment we can be filled with the joy and light of the season is right now!

May you shine on!

(c) Nourishing – Read entire story here.