Cleaning Out Emotional Baggage

I decided to turn on the TV in the wee hours the other night because I couldn't sleep. On the television was an old episode of Clean House, a show on the Style Network, where the hosts go into messy homes and help families take control of their lives by eliminating all the clutter while redecorating rooms.

While listening to this show, decorator Mark Brunetz said something like, he's learned that cleaning a house is more than just taking out the household clutter, it's about helping people grow emotionally, by getting them to let go of possessions that keep them stuck in the past.

Mark's words reminded me of the emotional baggage we carry about weight. Similar to a messy Clean House room, our daily thoughts are laddened with junk beliefs, feelings, fears, and apprehensions that hinder our weight loss success.

I'm fat, it's the way I've always been, and will always be!"

"I had a boyfriend that told me he wouldn't take me on his boat because he didn't want his friends to see me in a bathing suit."

"Everyone in my family has been overweight for generations, so it's no use my trying to lose weight."

"I'm uncomfortable in social situations because I don't know how to act. I've always been the one who sat in the back of the room."

"I hate myself because I'm fat."

"I work in an industry where everyone looks like barbie dolls. It makes me feel ugly because my being overweight really sticks out like a sore thumb."

Or as an anonymous poster said, "I'm very glad to know of the colon cleanse because what you describe in your "Scoop on Poop" entry on your blog, is all too familiar to me. I've tried everything to no avail. In my case, I think it is more emotionally connected. I think the reason I go so infrequently is because I suspect I'm afraid of letting go of emotional stuff. I somehow unconsciously hold on to the poop."

You might think I made up these statements; but no, they are true thoughts and incidents that have happened to me or others. This emotional baggage muddies the waters, clouds our reasoning, smashes self-esteem, and weighs us down. Living with all this junk-in-our-trunks weighs heavily upon our minds and makes it difficult to focus on what we really want, which is to be slim, happy and healthy.

Ever lose weight only to gain it back again? That's because no matter how serious we are mentally about losing weight, our emotional baggage triggers bad behaviors that knock us off course.

Similar to Clean House, we have to invest a little time and perhaps a little money on healing our emotional selves. Here's a few ideas:

1. Become aware of the thoughts about yourself: Are they your thoughts or statements put upon you by other people -- an abusive parent, mean boyfriend, or jealous friend? Separate what really belongs to someone else, and what you truly feel about yourself.
   
2. Toss out what's harming you, keep what's nurishing: Your body is a reflection of your inner thoughts, so as you toss out negative self-talk and restrictive beliefs, and stop buying into the media hype and opinions of others, your self-esteem will increase and so will your weight loss success.
   
3. Empty our emotional baggage: Set up an appointment with a counsellor or psychologist, get a life coach, take up yoga, set time aside to meditate. Take active steps toward finding out what your emotional baggage is and healing it.


4. Picture who you want to be: Like an architectual sketch to redecorated a room, you should visualize your new body image by hanging meaningful pictures in your home or placing images as backgrounds on your computer. My image represents a happy, positive, and slim me.


5. Make a plan and set goals: Draw up a written plan to help you get to your destination. Remember, no matter how rocky the road, being persistent is the key to success. Click on these links to see my Best Of Eating Plan and Goals.


6. Keep your emotional house clean: Finally, organize your emotional world to keep it clean. That might mean doing meditation on a regular basis, rejecting other peoples' trips laid on you, resolving feelings when they arise, and focusing on positive thoughts and feelings about yourself.

My philsophy is "You've got one life to live. So make the best of it!" Get started now cleaning out your internal baggage, redecorating your inner house, and taking care of the new you.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES YOUR EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE?