The Holiday Season brings time with family, friends, parties, meals and celebrations . .. and a tendency to over eat.  It's as if the holidays require more will power than other times of year.  Despite a wider selection of high calorie, low nutrient foods,  the tendency to eat much more than you need may be coming from another cause.  You may be wearing a mask.  

 

According to her newest book, Why Good People Do Bad Things , Debbie Ford says that the mask is "the facade that we use to disguise our shame". You may have put on a mask many years ago in an attempt to hide old wounds and to feel better about yourself in the world.  It's very possible you are not aware you may be wearing one.  If you are, then you may be hiding your authentic nature.

 

Ford's book lists 20 masks that are most common. I am only going to list several of them here:

The People Pleaser  - constantly trying to make other people happy.

The Nice Guy - putting his needs aside to appear helpful to others.

The Good Girl - wanting to be seen as nice, prim and proper.

 

The Jokester - using humor as a defense mechanism to avoid sensitive feelings.

 

The Victim - life is painful for them as they walk right into things that will confirm that.                                 

   

It may not be easy to read through these, but perhaps you identify with one of them.  Most of us wear a mask of some type.  But, did you realize that it takes a lot of energy to hide your true, authentic self?   One way to stuff down and hide the true essence of who you are is to over eat.  Over eating can serve as an activity to keep you busy at a party or fill yourself up so as not to feel your real feelings. 

 

Are you ready to remove your mask and start to allow your real self to shine through?   Perhaps the hunger you think you have is truly an insatiable hunger to be your authentic self.  Wouldn't it be so much better to feed that desire than to keep feeding your body more food than it needs?

 

This Holiday Season, if you can take off your mask, even for an hour and step into the authenticity of who you really are, you may find yourself feeling a lightness that has not been there for years.  When you feel good about yourself, food becomes something to nourish your body and not something to help hide the real you.  

 

May I suggest that you listen to your inner voice.  Ask for what you need.  Be present and in the moment during a conversation.  Say "no" just once when you really mean it.  When you try 'being you' during the holidays, you may feel lighter, eat healthier and experience the joy of the season. 

 

If this article has stimulated something for you, perhaps  let's make an appointment to talk.  You may email me at emailalyse@aol.com or call at (847) 840 - 0884.  I am here and ready to partner with you in becoming the best that you can be.