I have noticed that the biggest key for keeping my food intake balanced, is to keep myself as grounded as possible, moment by moment.
What does being “grounded” actually mean? Most of us have heard the term before, but may not know really what it means to ground our selves, or how to do it.
Being grounded allows us to bring consciousness or awareness into the body- this is essential because it provides an anchor. Anchoring makes us stronger, less vulnerable, able to tolerate the forces of life. It also connects us to the earth, rooting us to the energies of nature and the planet.
We are so bombarded by cultural media images that are UN-natural, that finding ways to stay connected to our bodies and the rhythms of nature are essential. When we are alienated from these, trouble follows. Examples of this might be feeling “spacey”, anxious, unstable, or having difficulty with good boundaries- literally unable to “stand on our own two feet”.
Grounding occurs in the lower body, in keeping our feet and legs in contact with the earth. We receive energy from the earth and our connection to it that helps stabilize us and allows us to feel more solid.
Those who study energy, including myself, have noticed that many people with eating or weight problems are actually using them in service of staying grounded.
I realized this in my own experience, several years ago. I noticed that I almost always overate when among more people. I found that my energy system was easily over-stimulated, by noise, others’ energies, visual distractions, whatever- and that I typically disconnected from my body, and ate more food, often quickly, in these circumstances.
There do not need to be lots of people around to feel the need for grounding. An overactive mind can be just as over-stimulating- anything that causes our energy to feel out of balance, that causes us to send our energy outwards, leaves us vulnerable to disconnection.
It is in these moments of disconnection, some would even call it a form of dissociation, when we are going to find our selves eating in ways we often regret. How can you make good choices, if you are not “present”?
Answering this question will help greatly in your quest to find peace in your body around food and everything else! Part of the reason the disconnection is so tricky is because we LIKE IT!!!! There is temporary relief in the disconnection- a break from painful thoughts and feelings, self-talk, all of it.
This gets back to how to stay present, which is about how to stay in your body, grounded and in the present moment. It sounds simple, but it’s a big challenge for those of us who use food to balance our emotions.
TRY THIS: The first step, as with most problem solving is to notice when you are beginning to disconnect. Start to observe your self in various situations where you find yourself eating in ways that don’t feel good.
What is happening for you at these times? Are you alone? Is it after difficult encounters with certain people? Who or what is triggering you in a way that you need to disconnect through food?
Lisa Claudia Briggs, is the Founder of Intuitive Body. She is a Holistic Intuitive Therapist, and Eating Disorders Expert and Mentor. Lisa has helped hundreds of women and teenaged girls heal their eating and body-related issues for the past 20-plus years. Lisa has developed a unique system providing an amazing collection of techniques blending psychology, EMDR, guided imagery and relaxation, energy medicine, and spiritual traditions to help women and teens shift old patterns and beliefs. Visit https://www.intuitivebody.com for more information, or contact Lisa at lisa@intuitivebody.com or call 978.772.0009.
