A Positive Approach to Enjoying the Festivities

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the allure of delicious festive treats, alcohol, and calorie heavy meals. However, for many, this time of year can also be accompanied by feelings of guilt, excessive indulgence, and anxiety about overeating. 

In this blog post, we'll explore the psychology behind our holiday eating habits and why it's essential to reframe our mindset for a more enjoyable and guilt-free holiday season.

The Psychology Behind Holiday Eating♡

Have you ever noticed what happens when someone says, "Don't look"? 

Naturally, we want to peek. It's a bit like telling a child not to touch something - they become even more curious and the second you turn your back they are sticking their finger out to see what will happen. 

This phenomenon is known as a negative bias, where our brains tend to focus more on what we shouldn't be doing. It's a form of psychological rebellion.

When we tell ourselves, "I'm not going to binge eat the holiday cookies" or "I can't have another rum and eggnog," or “I don’t want to gain 5lbs this holiday” we inadvertently make these negative thoughts, our central focus of our attention. 

Consequently, we become more likely to give in to temptation simply because that's what our mind is fixated on.

The Power of Positive Intentions

Instead of setting strict rules that we're likely to break or that may lead to feelings of resentment, why not set positive intentions? The key is to shift our focus from restriction to enjoyment and presence.

For example, instead of saying, "I can't have any cookies," try saying, "I'll enjoy one cookie mindfully once I've had dinner." By adopting this positive language and mindful approach, we allow ourselves to enjoy the holiday foods while maintaining a positive mental position.

This holiday season, let's reframe our mindset to focus on positive intentions rather than strict restrictions. Replace "I can't have" with “I’m choosing to…” so that it feels like an empowered choice instead of a rule or restriction. 

When you make hard rules, you are setting yourself up for an all-or-nothing scenario. If you tell yourself you can’t have any cookies, and then grandmas shortbread looks irresistible, you will “break the seal” and end up eating the whole plate. 

Embrace the joy of the holidays: Remember that the holidays are a time for joy and celebration, not for guilt or extreme dietary rules. Allow yourself to enjoy the festive flavors while remaining mindful of your choices. Also know that fun and joy - come from your presence, not from how full your stomach is or how much food you eat. 

Consider how you want to feel on January 1st? When we set our sights on how we would like to feel, it gives us the opportunity to make choices charged with positive emotion. 

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season!

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