I am intrigued to know others' thoughts on the emotions of shame and pride around how we feel about HOW we eat. How important are they for you? Are there any other emotions you feel as a reaction to how you have eaten?
I feel I'm looking at them through new eyes, not having thought about them much before... while I have, of course, like so many on here, thought a lot about the emotions which trigger overeating - a many and varied bag!!
I recognise how much I enjoy that feeling of pride after eating well in challenging situations, like Christmas or holidays. And that it builds that part of me that believes I can do hard things. Almost like strengthening a muscle.
It expands me, making me feel more open to life and new experiences and more capable in other spheres.
And the shame when I have binged or eaten badly. Sometimes it is not there at all, I can be pragmatic and say that's what happened, it's understandable, just accept and move forward.
But other times, it is SO powerful, a deep and hidden emotion, making me shrink in myself and see myself as a lesser person. Like a couple of days ago, when I ate unconsciously (especially chocolate) in a scenario when it would have been so easy not to do so. It's connected to my thinking that I had mastered a powerful new skill and, by not using it, I had let myself down. While pragmatically I know that learning a new skill is often two steps forward and one step back.
And it is connected to what will others think of me, just hoovering up chocolate... while the reality is I suspect no one really noticed. Though of course there was that shame and fear when I had crept into the kitchen mid-afternoon and scoffed some delicious stuff, hoping that no one would come in while I was doing so....