29. Survival Guide: Body Discomfort Around the Holidays

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Hi, everyone, and welcome back to body breaking free podcast. I am your host, Katie Kay. And today's episode, I really just wanted to keep it short, keep it simple. I know it is around the holidays right now. So there can be a lot of stuff that comes up with our body and our struggle around food. And it can be really hard. I mean, the holidays can be awesome and around family. And we can feel that joy of connection. But I don't want to shy away from it's also can be a big struggle. And if you're anything like me that just loves to have control. And that perfectionism mentality, our routine and our daily schedule can be our comfort zone and can be a form of protection. And when we're pushed out of that protection mode, we can get really stressed out and our energy can feel out of whack. And that's kind of how I viewed the holidays in the past. I mean, not completely, but there was, I mean, it's hard, it's definitely hard. And especially if you're struggling with your body image, or just trying to feel good in your body. And maybe you feel like just being out of your normal routine and schedule, that you have less control around food, you have less time to do the things that make you feel good exercise, meditate, I get it, I totally get it. And yeah, I guess this episode, I just wanted to pop in and talk a little bit about this kind of discomfort that we can feel in our body and bring in a new perception. Because if we're stuck in that kind of lack of control, feeling gross feeling weighted down, feeling like our energy just doesn't feel right. And that might just be whatever it is for you, whatever kind of discomfort that you're feeling, we can really focus on that. And we can bring a lot of judgment, negativity, separation from our true self, our essence that higher self and empowerment. And just is like this mentality that just so easy to get wrapped up in. So I want to offer a new perspective today that we can kind of hold on to as our North Star, something that we can look towards for light. And remember that you're on a new journey, you're on a new path with your body. And being any kind of discomfort or any kind of feeling of lost or unknown is actually a really amazing place to be in. It's showing you that you're no longer wanting to stick to your old mentality or old habits, your old mindset, and you want something better for yourself. But you're kind of stuck in this unknown place. And that's a courageous place to be in because it just means that you're not allowing yourself to fall back on, on those old old patterns, you just you're just ready for that change. And looking at yourself now in that way, give yourself a lot of compassion for feeling a little lost and uncertain. And I want you to really look at that discomfort as an opportunity to start to change your mindset around discomfort around pain, and especially around any kind of judgment or guilt that you are feeling. I know it's really common to blame ourselves if we're, you know, eating too much around the holidays or we're not doing this we're doing this wrong bla bla bla bla, it's, you know, wrapped up in this kind of cycle of just, you know, really blaming ourselves for what's going wrong. So, let's look at this kind of 180 Let's look at it differently and a new light and a new intention. So first, I want you to be aware that this discomfort is really an opportunity for you to connect to the pain, the uncomfortable and a completely new way. So let's forget that way of our nose Normal judgment, normal, placing blame on ourselves and look at it as a way to invite an opportunity of just really noticing and bringing that awareness into your body. And when we can do that, we'll start to notice the discomfort is, it's just a feeling, it's just a sensation. And it's so common that we have so much fear around any kind of discomfort or pain, that it's just common to block it and just kind of stay away from it. And always be on this bandaid trying to fix it. mentality. And what we really need to do is invite it in. And we really need to notice it and be with it. And the more that we can be with that emotion, the more awareness that we bring into ourselves into our body. And we learn a whole new way to relate to this discomfort. And it takes it takes the fear away from it almost takes the power away from it, when you can turn towards it and really notice it. And really notice it without placing that judgment on yourself. And that's a really empowering place to be in, if you can imagine that you can turn towards Oh, that thought of I shouldn't have eaten that last night, or I shouldn't have, you know, over consumed, you know, had too many glasses of wine, or oh gosh, like that was really fun Christmas evening. But man, I feel bad for just over consuming. So what happens if we turn towards those thoughts of guilt and just face it. And really, what the process is, is noticing those sensations in your body, that's the key, that's the process. So noticing when that thought arises, or are noticing the discomfort in your body, taking a pause, and then turning inward turning towards it. And using your breath as an anchor can be a really great way to root in the discomfort and have something that you can watch and just sit with. And I promise you that it is really profound in the way that you can change and shape your own empowered empowerment around how you relate to discomfort, how you relate to your food, it really is kind of this little light switch that changes everything in the way that you relate to your body and your actions. And once you lift, kind of like looking now farther in the future, once you kind of lift that fear of discomfort, and really actually tuning into your body and developing this whole new relationship, you start to realize your actions change. And it's better serving you because you're connected to yourself in a new way. And so I promise you that this awareness, it's not a simple thing. And it's really hard, it's actually much harder, in the moment to be with your discomfort, then pushing it away. But in the long term, it's so significant in the way that it's going to uplift you and bring you to a more positive place. So just keep that in mind. And, you know, all you can do with those thoughts of judgment and guilt is notice them and tune into it and really see what's going on. And then separate yourself from it, give it that space and say you know what, I'm on a new journey now, on this new mindset, and I see you and I know what's happening. And I'm going to allow you to be here, I'm going to notice you I'm going to turn towards you. I'm going to feel that discomfort in my body. I'm going to breathe with it. I'm going to sit with it until it unfolds and releases and then I'm going to move on and you totally have that option of choice. I don't want to diminish how hard that process is because I know it can be really hard and really uncomfortable. But just keep remembering you have this new intention around food around your body and it's a higher intention than any place that you have ever been before. And that's something that you can really look towards Words and hold on to and be like, yeah, I totally over consumed. And I did probably more than I would have normally done when I was in that control stay and judging myself and putting on all that guilt. And yeah, maybe I gave him a little bit more, but I'm on a learning journey. And I am opening up to this as a new opportunity for me to see what's there, and really see what's there when that happens. Oh, yeah. And that's it you guys like that's the process. And that's a really, really amazing and takes a lot, a lot of courage to be there. And your bravery is just going to pay off tenfold, the more and more that you bring this practice. And so I invite you to allow that to be in during this holiday season. And also know that any kind of discomfort that you're feeling in your body, and might not just be that overconsumption and might just be having different emotions in your body. Because your routine is different. We have a lot of places in our body that we can hold stuck energy, we can hold emotions. And it doesn't necessarily mean that it's bad. But we might perceiving it as discomfort because it doesn't feel like what we are normally used to. And, oh, that might be a whole nother factor. It might not even be what you're doing or any kind of actions, it might just be a different energy as you're out of your routine. And just enjoy yourself. Like, just enjoy that. That gratitude and connection and always knowing that you can find that peace and love and compassion within yourself. Freedom is a concept of within, it's always within and the more that we are trying to grasp and look for it on the outside, the more suffering we cause ourselves and, and just knowing the simple fact that you can find that freedom at any moment, by giving yourself a pause, noticing your body, feeling your feet planted on the floor, and just in bringing that sensation like noticing those sensations and locations in your body. And I promise you that you're giving yourself the best gift that you can you're understanding yourself more and that's really what we want. So that is it for today, you guys. And thank you for showing up and taking a pause if you're listening to this podcast, and during this winter and just giving yourself a little space for yourself and time for yourself. Ah sending so much love to you and your body. Reach out to me DM me on Instagram, if you are just there's something that you're struggling with if there's a question if you just want to say something and just have it down and don't need a response, I'm just I'm here for that I'm here for whatever you need and and it's your own process. It's your own journey and just allow it to and allow yourself to know it. You don't have to know everything right now and you can exist in that uncertainty and that space of feeling lost and that's just telling you that you are making progress. You are making progress. Alright guys, I will see you next week.