Dear Food, I Forgive You.
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." Paul Boese
A couple of weeks ago I was asked the question, what am I not willing to accept about my relationship with food? I found this one to be really powerful so I thought I’d share the question with you. When I heard it, there was so much to feel. I was so angry at food! For the fact that I had to deal with it at all! I saw the battle I’d been waging, absolutely refusing to surrender!
And then another question…what am I willing to accept? Immediately, there was a softening that occurred in me, a letting go of my resentment over the way food has occurred in my life, the binging, the allergies, the weight and food obsession. I could finally stop my internal kicking and screaming and embrace what it is. I could come back to the gift it is as my teacher. Showing me where I’m hungry for more in my life and how to love myself better. Showing me where I disconnect and disembody myself. Showing me what I need and showing me what I don’t.
It may sound silly but I found a freedom in forgiving food for being what it is, for affecting me the way it has. And of course this opened the path to forgiving me for the ways I’ve abused it. Making lighter, healthier food choices has become increasingly easier as my resistance to what is has vanished. I wrote a letter of forgiveness, to myself and food, releasing the resentment and resistance I’d been carrying for so long. We are friends again and it feels good.
If this speaks to you, ask yourself the same questions, and try writing a letter of forgiveness to yourself and food too. This exercise could be a powerful one for any situation where you find yourself harboring resentment. Wherever you tap into the forgiveness, I would love to hear how it goes for you! To share your comments email yiska@redefiningdiet.com.
