Does It Have to Hurt?

Realizing that alignment feels different than discipline….
This is just me talking about what works for me. Believe and do what works for you.

It’s the simple things that can give me deeper revelations. I used to get those Quaker Oats (1/3 sugar) flavored oatmeal packets, because they were a quick option. Over the years it seemed like the sugar to oatmeal ratio just kept getting worse. And eventually I didn’t just feel “guilty” eating them, I didn’t like them. I didn’t want a bowl of sugar with an oatmeal garnish.

Honestly, I probably bought them two more times AFTER coming to that conclusion… because it was simpler than figuring out how to make real oatmeal. (Of course, now I realize it wasn’t that complicated, but I thought it was gonna take a day and half of boiling, like grits.😅)

Each time I ate them, I felt like I was doing something wrong. (Not to mention I’d throw out 1/3 of the packets because that cinnamon flavor is so nasty. Who wants that? Ewww.)

Anyway, back to my point….

Recently, I was at Whole Foods and I saw this oatmeal…. Just regular old, we haven’t done much to it, but put it in the bag, oatmeal. And I bought it. And I thought about what flavors would be nice to taste, AND would be nice to my body. So I added a little honey for the sweetness, a pinch or two of salt because (as Tabitha Brown says) “that’s my business,” and then I thought, “Hmmm…. I wonder how cardamom would taste in here?” So I shook a little of that in there. And LAWD, it was delicious!

I gave myself time to think about what I wanted. I trusted myself to figure it out. I realized that it really is a “boil water and stir” simple process. And I’m now enjoying oatmeal that feels good going down.

I’m not forcing myself to eat right. I’m choosing foods that feel good to eat. And I’m doing it in a way that satisfies my palate. And I’m really proud of myself for that.

I’m sure discipline has its place…. AND I prefer to find ways to make things (I already want to do) enjoyable. I don’t want to make eating a chore. I want to enjoy it. And by simply aligning with my truth and giving myself room to try something new, I found a new favorite thing to eat.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist