What is your relationship to sugar? My relationship is good, for the most part – now, but in the past, it was more of a love-hate thing.
I loved eating sugar, especially chewy candy – Swedish fish, Mike & Ikes, Twizzlers, and cinnamon bears. Then I would hate myself for eating too much of it.
I developed a dysfunctional relationship with sugar in my college days. At the time, I categorized most of what I ate as being “good” or “bad” for me, even though, I didn’t fully understand what was good or bad.
I just followed what I read in magazines and what friends told me. I jumped on all the fad diets – cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, low-fat, fat-free, etc. I remember thinking it was okay to eat candy because it was “fat-free,” plus it did kind of kill my appetite for a while, so hey I ended up eating less! Ugh, not the healthiest way to think about nutrition – I know.
It took time, therapy, and a ton of awareness, but I was been able to develop a healthier relationship to sugar. Which was great. It felt good that sugar did not have so much control over me.
But then, over the years, the sugar cravings would start creeping back and I would start eating more candy, cookies, sweets, etc. I would beat myself up and get scared that I was slipping back into unhealthy habits.
I used to think it was a self-control thing and that I was weak. However, as I learned that I was an empath and how the energy of others impacted me and how I felt – it helped me reach another level of awareness with my relationship to sugar.
I realized that my desire for sugar increased when I was avoiding my feelings, emotions and not taking care of myself. I noticed that when I was being extra hard on myself and not allowing myself to process, feel, sit with, heal, or move through my emotions – I would turn to sugar. It made me feel good – in the moment. It distracted me – in the moment.
Also, when I was absorbing the stressful emotions of the people around me and not actively clearing out this energy – it would build up in me – and I would turn to high-sugar foods to help distract me – for a moment.
As I practiced clearing my energy, I found that I turned to sugar less and less. I believe that having the awareness of why I crave sugar and having tools to help me, such as meditating, journaling, clearing my energy, and more – is what has helped me to continue to return to peace with my relationship with sugar.
I wish I could say that I no longer turn to sugar for comfort. However, it can still happen, but now I don’t see it as being weak. I see it as a reminder to check in that I am clearing my energy, taking care of myself, and not avoiding something or someone.
Personally, my goal is to not give up or eliminate all sugar from my life. My relationship with sugar isn’t perfect and that is okay. I still have times when I give in to the cravings and I eat candy, cookies, or sweets – instead of sitting with my emotions or clearing out my energy immediately.
Sometimes . . . I just want to eat the treat and distract myself for a little while and I’m okay with that. I know that I will come back to peace.
What is your relationship with sugar? Maybe for you it is savory treats you turn to.
Either way, could it be a sign that you are avoiding how you feel or you are not taking care of yourself? Maybe you are absorbing the stressful, negative emotions of the people around you.
Is it time to journal, meditate or clear your energy?
“The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.” Simon Sinek