The one thing motivating everything we do

Hi there and welcome to the new normal (for now).

As many of us shelter in place and withdraw from regular social interactions, we might discover new ways in which our food and body "stuff" manifests.

Perhaps you find yourself self-soothing with food more often as a way to manage fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Maybe you are grazing through your days because you're newly working from home and in close proximity to the kitchen. You might be feeling the weight of possible food insecurity, wondering whether you should stockpile or ration. Or feeling trapped or restless without your usual physical activity outlets.

Whatever you are feeling right now, please know that it all falls in the spectrum of NORMAL responses to a very abnormal situation.

One thing to recall whenever we are dealing with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that feel distressing to us is that whatever we do - no matter how dysfunctional or ill-advised it might seem - comes from a basic desire to feel OK.

When we recognize that beneath difficult habitual behaviors lies the desire to feel safe and secure, we humanize ourselves, we stop making ourselves problems to be solved, and stop pathologizing what we do. When we see the core motivation for our actions, we can begin to cultivate self-compassion and open up some space - even our most difficult "issues" begin to be workable.

Whatever you are noticing, working with, even struggling with right now, could you:

1. Recognize that deep down this comes from a desire to just feel OK.

2. Humanize that desire for safety and security.

3. Rouse compassion for your inherently lovable and worthy human self.

4. Take the next right step (Hello, Frozen 2!!).