Day Thirty Seven!!

Support!

​I mentioned yesterday how I’m afraid of informing other people about my change of lifestyle because I have no idea if they are going to be supportive or not. So today I thought I would talk about creating that supportive environment for yourself. 
I also mentioned how I am completing the addictions work book that Dr. Laurie gave me as part of the Emotionally Focussed Eating program. I completed the third chapter and what was interesting to me was how there was a contract. I had to sign it and have it signed by a witness, holding me to my word of the environmental changes I needed to make. So this contract is significant because it’s just not to do with me and my behaviour but it’s also to do with how my environment needs to change. This change requires the support of family and friends to help facilitate my new behaviour. Health related behaviours are highly influenced by the people we surround ourselves with so when a change is required, what is ideal is that other key people in the social circle make the the same decision and if not they all require clear instructions, says Dr. Laurie. The key is removing temptations as well as triggers as much as possible. So what is important is that I am not alone, I have some of my family members working with me to find the best choice of foods possible. And for the others who would like to stay the way they want be, we have created clear boundaries so that there is a distinction between what is important in regards to maintaining the new lifestyle while for others they have a choice of adding in or buying foods to meet their needs. 
The key for me is that the lifestyle change has to make sense to you, if it makes sense to you then you are just going to live it. It would be nice to have a positive supportive environment with other like minded people around you so that you do not feel isolated or alone. Friends are like minded, meaning that you have things in common. If you find that you end up in power struggles or conflicts or you find that someone is purposely trying to sabotage you then it really is important to take care of yourself and make sure that you keep repeating the same message over and over again. If you waiver, then they will become confused and once that happens you are actually giving them permission to continue to set you up for failure.