Welcome to On The Journey. My name is Heather and I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to connect with you here.
Many of us share similar experiences and challenges on our journey toward weight-loss and better health. The purpose of this blog is to provide a space where topics of interest can be explored in a thoughtful and relatable way.
Weight-loss can be a very lonely road to traverse. Many people carry the feeling that they are the only one finding it difficult. We often feel isolated and that no-one really “gets” what we are going through. There are so many layers to what is happening for us that feeling lost or overwhelmed is a very normal response. This is something I regularly hear from my clients.
The good news is that you are absolutely not alone. At Alevia, you are supported by your doctor and the allied health team, who understand these challenges. This blog builds on that by offering a space to reflect on the kinds of experiences many of us face, in a way that feels safe and inclusive.
I will be presenting a topic each month in response to common concerns I hear from my clients in the therapy room – if one person is finding something challenging there is no doubt many others will share that experience and benefit from gaining a better understanding around the issues being raised.
I often wonder why so many of us feel alone in our struggles and begin to believe that everyone else seems to be able to ‘do it’ so why can’t I?
Human nature being what it is, if we are struggling to work something out our natural response will be to turn it inwards and start looking at what’s wrong with us.
Before long we can find ourselves sliding down the rabbit hole of believing that we are somehow flawed and that this personal failing is what prevents us from reaching our goals.
Sound familiar? If so, please allow me to welcome you to the large and auspicious club of perfectly normal human beings!
Okay, so if there isn’t anything “wrong” with us, what is actually going on? The real problem is that when we put all our energy into working out what is wrong with us, we lock ourselves into the belief that we need to somehow “fix” ourselves.
What we are doing here is putting blinkers on that stop us from considering what else is happening in our lives, and how these things might be affecting us.
Think of it like when you are driving your car along the freeway. You’re sitting in the middle lane, surrounded by heavy traffic. Now I’m sure you can see the trouble you might get into if you are focussing 100% on the traffic ahead of you and not taking any notice of what’s happening around you.
To navigate your way safely to your destination you would no doubt also be keeping an eye on what’s going on behind you; you notice what is happening on your left and your right; you are looking out for anything different in the environment that could warn you of potential danger – in other words you are taking in the whole picture.
Do you see the connection? When our focus is narrow and we are only considering what we believe is wrong with us, it becomes very easy to conclude that everything must be our own fault.
Thinking like this, of course, sends our self-esteem and confidence plummeting headlong down a bottomless ravine. And the cycle continues. When we widen our view, we begin to acknowledge and address the many other influences that are at play and the harsh self-judgment softens – and what a relief that is!
If you are still not convinced, just think for a moment. If you really are a flawed, weak person who is incapable of taking control, then why would you be reading this? Why would you be a member of the Alevia community?
That’s your evidence right there that you are in fact strong and resilient – you are in there giving it your best shot.
That is the type of thinking we work with. Those old thought patterns are simply habits that no longer serve us well. Once we begin to recognise them, we can start opening our minds to other possibilities — and suddenly the idea that we are “stuck” begins to loosen.
So, I would just like to leave you with a new perspective to consider:
“You are okay, just as you are. Your experiences are a normal part of being human and you have already demonstrated the strength and resilience needed to successfully make the changes you would like to achieve.”
I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog, and if at any point you feel that having a space to talk things through might be helpful, please have a chat with your Doctor or our Admin team about booking in a counselling session.
Have a great month and please share with us your feedback and ideas for future discussions.
Heather
Heather Mikronis– Counsellor (Behaviour Change & Emotional Eating)
