Do something Friday

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".  And food, by any other name, would have as many calories.

What happens if you change what you call soda to "liquid candy"?

What if you renamed doughnuts, muffins, and coffee cake to "breakfast candy"?

Would you feel okay about eating one (or 12)?

I read the phrase "liquid candy" in relation to soda last week (in this article about New York limiting the size of soda it's restaurants can sell) and it's been rattling around my brain for a few days.

A lot of our behaviors require justification.  How many times do you find yourself saying things like "I deserve this XYZ because I ..... (worked out, had a bad day, was good all weekend, ....fill in the blank)"?

One thing about becoming more mindful -- it gives you the opportunities to hear just exactly how many times and in what circumstances we justify our behavior.

Have you EVER found yourself justifying the desire to eat an apple, salad, or piece of broiled fish?  I bet not!  --and mostly because you think they are somehow "more healthy".

Whether they are or not is not the point.  The point is the instant you hear yourself start to justify your behavior, that should be the signal to STOP what you're doing and take the time to DECIDE if you want to continue in the behavior your contemplating (or not).

Start paying attention to what that voice is telling you -- it may be working AGAINST you -- not FOR you.  (but you'll never know until you start being more mindful of what it's saying to you!)