One of the deepest most agonizing and painful feelings people with eating issues have….is shame.
I’m ashamed of myself for having this experience, for doing this type of eating, for thinking the way I think, for feeling the feelings I feel.
Shame stays alive with secrets, hiding, keeping things to yourself.
I found shame stayed alive through withholding myself, through not saying what seemed true for me.
I wanted to hide the fact that I had eating issues, and even after I was no longer having any “disordered eating” episodes, I STILL wanted to hide my eating history.
Such a disgust around what I had done with food.
The medicine for shame? A first profoundly powerful step is to share what you’re feeling with another human being–an individual, a group, it doesn’t matter–and be willing to enter that lack of safety.
Today I talk about shame, some secrets I wanted to keep hidden…and also answer some questions about the upcoming Eating Peace program. In brief: the program has morphed and changed constantly. Honestly it’s worked brilliantly for some, and not for others.
I’ve been learning for several years how to deliver what has worked for me with having a normal joy of eating and food, instead of suffering around it (as well as my body).
It’s like my own eating peace program is how to share it with you, or really how to share it with my previous version of myself–the one who was so ashamed.
Basically in a nutshell: the newest version of Eating Peace Process will start May 1st.
Participants will begin some practices step by step into their day to study eating, silence, thinking and inquiry (The Work of Byron Katie).
We’ll do only the foundational practices for at least 2 weeks before moving on to more focus on the underlying patterns around compulsion. It’s my desire that everyone feel comfortable, and not so ashamed, when it comes to this eating thing.
Most important of all when it comes to shame, in general?
Identifying what you’ve experienced, done, thought or said that you feel is worthy of shame, and questioning it!
Hi Grace,
I follow you on Facebook and love watching your videos and reading your posts. You’ve helped me out with a couple of questions I had in the past and was wondering about something that came up recently when doing The Work on the belief my dad is his own worst enemy. I messaged you Saturday but I think you’ve said before you don’t always check those right away so I thought I’d try reaching out to you here.
With gratitude, Amy
Hello dearest, so glad you sent a message here as you’re right, I never saw a message elsewhere, so thank you. Love to hear your questions–that’s a very powerful thought to question “my dad (or anyone) is their own worst enemy”. –Grace