Our Thoughts, Emotions and Actions

The way that we feel is controlled by the way that we think! In other words, our emotions are controlled by our thoughts and not the other way around. Consequently, to feel good you must have good (positive) thoughts. Negative thoughts will make you feel bad. If you organize and discipline your thinking (rationally and realistically) you will be able to live a more emotionally satisfying and self-fulfilling life. This can be a lot of work, since throughout much of our lives we find it easier to adapt negative perceptions of how things really are or what people really say. In reality, it is only our own thoughts and not what is truly happening in the world around us.

Let's examine the thought involved in wanting a piece of pie. You will experience a pleasurable feeling and a desire to eat it (emotion). Now you make the necessary movement with your hands and mouth to ingest it (action). Finally, you might think to yourself: "Gee, that sure tasted good. But I really shouldn't have eaten it. It has too many calories. I feel guilty about having eaten it". The next day, you may feel very depressed when you are up a pound on the scale (another emotion). Frustration sets in, because on the one hand you 'wanted' the pie, and on the other you want to understand how to control future slips of eating, or at least learn to eat properly without guilt.

All of these are about learning to think appropriate thoughts that will assist you to survive and achieve your goals. These types of thoughts are positively oriented. Such thinking tends to minimize inner conflicts and turmoil. Such positive thinking will help you to observe your feelings more fully, openly and allow you to choose to feel the way you want to feel. If you are confused and frustrated, it simply leads to negative emotions and more eating.

You need to work on thoughts such as these:

-"It is possible to become thin"

-"Sacrifices are an integral part of my weight control effort and in the interest of good health and happiness, I am willing to make these sacrifices".

-"Changes in eating habits have to become permanent. There is no going back to the kind of eating that allowed me to be overweight in the first place".

-"My desire for weight control is stronger than my desire for food. I can increase my desire to be thin and decrease my desire for food".

With negative thoughts one will internalize and feel hopeless or helpless, which often leads to eating. This breeds more self deprecation and more eating. Physically, we become more tired and less likely to exercise. The solution is to culture positive thoughts. Decide never to berate yourself, rather, keep up your courage and eliminate any feelings that you are facing an impossible task.

As hard as it is, be relentless in your internal pursuit of being positive, know that you can learn to resist that pie, that you can and will lose weight and that you will learn to not give into those emotions that lead you to more food than you need. You must learn to believe in you. This is your journey and it can be a fulfilling one. Don't ever give up on yourself. We were all designed to succeed. Learn to override those negative feelings. Look ahead to tomorrow, because tomorrow you will be the best.

You can do it. Just don't ever give up......Dr. Doug