Visualization: Expressing Feelings

09/13/24 • 5 min

It's Not About Food Podcast with Laurelee Roark

Feelings
So when the peer educators go in the classrooms to present our 3 prong prevention and recovery program from disordered eating (body acceptance, intuitive eating and emotional intelligence) the students are interested and engaged. But as we move into talking about feelings, everyone goes into a coma. No one wants to hear about their own or anyone else’s feelings. They’re often too yucky, too messy, too uncomfortable and hard. But we have to. It’s what makes us human. Cause, if it’s not about food, and it’s not about weight...what is it about?
Everything else. Especially feelings.
Feelings are the emotions that come from the core of our being. They are an essential part of knowing our needs and then getting those needs met.
Our feelings tell us when we are hurt and when we need to set a boundary. They let us know what makes us happy, and what feeds our soul.
When we can learn how to go beneath the body hatred and diet thoughts we will experience our feelings fully.
This lets us take back our own lives and experiences in order to be present in the moments we have on the earth. It is a privilege and a miracle to be here and feel what we feel, love who we love, be who we are.

Expressing Feelings CD
Visualization on page 113 of Its Not About Food....blah, blah, blah.

After doing the visualization above try this to put into action what you learned:
1. Practice letting yourself feel whatever you feel. No matter what.
2. Bring your awareness to the feeling and be present for it. No matter what.
3. Try not to change the feeling. No matter what.
4. Observe and accept the feeling. No matter what.
5. Stay connected with yourself and your feeling. No matter what.

The feeling will move, dissipate, change and fade. No matter what. Like magic!

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Expressing Feelings CD
Visualization on page 113 of Its Not About Food....blah, blah, blah.

The feeling will move, dissipate, change and fade. No matter what. Like magic!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Previous Episode

Episode 174: Beyond Hunger Peer Educators 3 Prong Philosophy of Body Acceptance

Today’s podcast presents the Beyond Hunger Peer Educators talking about who they are and what they do in our program. These 3 young women are leaving to go away to school. Below is why they have donated so much of their time and themselves to the program.

Grace 4 years peer educator. Going to Chicago
being part of the peer education program has taught me not only practical skills such as public speaking, leadership, and teamwork but also to approach every situation with compassion. knowing I’ve made a difference in my community and potentially helped those who are silently suffering leaves me eternally grateful for the program and the people I’ve met within it.

Anna 2 years peer educator. Going to Boston

“Volunteering with Beyond Hunger has allowed me to take an experience that was difficult and ugly and turn it into something beautiful: helping others love themselves and their bodies. I know that in every classroom we present to, there is at least one student who is resonating with our lesson and, if not convinced to seek professional help, is at least learning new strategies in approaching their relationship with food and realizing they are not alone in their struggle”.

Vee Ly 3 years peer educator. Going to UC Berkeley
“Being in Beyond Hunger for the past three years has truly shaped my character and approach helping my peers. I have learned so much through the peer education program such as public speaking, how to deal with hardship, and how to help people in their own specific way. This program has not only helped me through my own journey with mental health and disordered eating, but allows me to help others in situations similar to my own, which creates an important safe space in schools.”

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Next Episode

Episode 175: Creativity with Special Guest Maneva Gill

Creativity is the outward manifestation of who we are as spiritual beings.

It is the magical ability to crest something out of nothing that is uniquely ours. It is the gift of being able to imagine, to dream, and then to make the dreams come true. Creative expression is essential to feeding our souls. It forces us to go beneath the obsession with food and weight. To access the part of ourselves that passionately hungers for self expression.
Maneva is an intern working on her certification in eating disorder coaching at the Carolyn Costin Institute. Drawing on her own lived experience and full recovery from an eating disorder she volunteered for two years as a peer mentor and a peer support group leader to help others in their recovery. She combines practical skills, keen empathy, and an uplifting sense of humor to create lasting and positive change in people’s lives. As an adjunct provider in eating disorder treatment, she will offer food behavior coaching, meal support, and more through her private practice. Maneva holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Finance from Sonoma State University and has a professional background in banking and financial technology. She is also a certified Reiki level 2 practitioner. For coaching or reiki inquiries please reach out to [email protected].

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