I am immensely grateful for every single email that comes in to my inbox. I do not take any request for help or advice for granted. I am THRILLED that you are looking to improve your life, your health and your mindset and I’m honored when you ask for my insight. I take it quite seriously and my goal is always to help you step into a happier, healthier version of yourself.
If you’d rather listen to this email than read it, please press play. Otherwise, keep reading below.Â
Here’s a fantastic email I got the other day from someone who is ready to make change in her life and is asking for my two cents.
Hi Elizabeth,
I love your podcast! The hardest thing for me is sugar addiction. I feel like I need chocolate every day. Good dark chocolate not cheap candy bars or milk chocolate. And I’m surrounded by temptation at work all the time. Also I want coffee with sweetener in it. Especially flavored creamer. I’ve cut way back but that’s it. Sugar is the hardest thing for me to quit.
My friend: if you tell yourself you need chocolate, you’re not only lying, but you’re convincing yourself. You’re talking yourself into it.
We both know that there is no need – emotional or physical – for chocolate. You like it, you want it and you’re in a habit of eating it. To tell yourself you need it is to talk yourself into it.
This isn’t a chocolate problem. This is a perspective opportunity.
Remember: when you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them. You remain limited by them.
You either choose the perspective of the problem and your powerlessness or you choose the perspective of the solution and your complete power.
You either choose to focus on the perspective of, “I need chocolate, I’m addicted!” or “What improvement am I able and willing to choose, just for today?”
A lot of this work comes down to identifying and refusing drama. I know everyone hates that word – drama – and doesn’t want to associate themselves or their patterns with it. However, telling yourself that you “need” chocolate is drama. We both know you don’t need chocolate.
When those drama-filled thoughts enter your mind – and they will – simply redirect to the drama free version of the story.
I don’t need chocolate.
I can talk myself into it or I can talk myself out of it. I can convince myself I need it or I can convince myself I don’t.
The power is mine.
Also worth noting: who said you have to quit sugar? Is that your goal? If it’s your goal, cool. But, if it’s not your goal, and you simply want to create an improvement, focus on creating that improvement. Why introduce the idea of “quitting” unless that is truly how you want to live your life – without any sugar ever. It’s all a story.
What story will you choose to tell yourself?
What will you practice today? The problem or the solution?