Every day brings numerous food choices. Some are so automatic we don’t think about them. Others we agonize over, apologize for, or allow others to make for us. Choice is one of our greatest powers.
Why would we shy away from making a healthy choice? Obviously, there are many reasons. But often it’s because we don’t think we have the mental or emotional strength to navigate the social implications of refusing perfectly good food because it damages our bodies.
And why do those of us who can eat something push others to join us? Is it really that important that another person make exactly the same choices we make?
Underneath excuses, hesitations, justifications, and bargaining with ourselves, we often make decisions based on fear. The weird thing is that we can be more afraid of public appearance than we are of bad health.
There’s no way to explain this logically. There’s nothing more frustrating than observing someone we care for do things that hurt them. And yet, when it comes to ourselves, it seems relatively easy to acquiesce to the slightest pressure to conform.
In this moment when factions publicly push agendas all day long every day, it may take even more resolve to pursue a healthy path. But here’s the thing, what someone else chooses (other than your children) is none of your business. It’s their choice and within their power to control.
Why is it important to butt out? Because focusing on another’s choices is a distraction from being responsible for our own. Plus, the less concerned we are about what others do, the less we’ll be affected by owning our own decisions when they prove to be unpopular.
I don’t know why we’re so worried about appearance in some areas. Is it because we’re so judgmental that we can’t accept others who don’t conform to our ideas? If so, can changing our attitude toward others help us make better choices for ourselves?
If you need people to conform to your ideals in order to feel safe, leaning into the power of choice can help you develop more internal security. When you’re internally secure, you’ll be less worried about what other people think.
Perhaps this fact is worth repeating: you cannot control other people. That is an illusion. You can manipulate them or the circumstances around them, but the control you achieve is momentary. This puts you in the position of required escalation to continue to feel in charge.
This week, when you’re tempted to consume something that will hurt your health, shift the focus to you. Does your choice value your health? Does it make you feel better or worse physically? Do you have the courage to take care of yourself? Can you stop apologizing for proactive decisions?
You don’t have to do anything different right this minute. Simply changing your focus can lead to better food choices down the road.