While I can tell you all day that you don't need to worry,

That everything will work out,

That it's not that bad,

The feelings

The overwhelm

The fear

The anxiety will still be there.

But,

A big, amazing but,

We can power through it.

We can be scared and still enforce our boundaries.

We can be scared and still give that speech.

We can be scared and still go out in public.

Because a feeling is just that.

A feeling.

It's not fact.

It's not fate or destiny.

And we can do a lot even when we feel so small.

So don't let you limit you.

Move forward even when your hands are shaking,

Your voice is quivering,

And your heart is pounding.

Because you can.

Because you are and have been brave.

Because you deserve to.

Keep going going x

It's a cheat meal - it's a meal, not a test.

I'm being good today, I'm so bad for having xyz - stop assigning morality to food, it's damaging your relationship with food and your body.

I haven't eaten anything today - it's not achievement. It's deprivation. It increases your chances of binging later and impact your body's hunger cues.

The diet starts tomorrow - just. no.

I can't, I'm on a diet - excessive restrictions just aren't worth the consequences

I could never eat that much - okay? We're completely different people with completely different needs, comments like these are unnecessary and shameful

I can eat this because I exercised - you never ever need to earn food.

Wow you're hungry today - and? Not sure how that impacts you at all.

That has so many calories - food is so much more than calories. It's the nutrients our bodies need to function, to have energy, to create memories, to celebrate our cultures, it's our expression. Stop limiting it.

I know how difficult it is to break not only the cycle of thinking these things but also saying them. But the undertone of a lot of these phrases is shame and judgement.

I hear these phrases on a daily basis and I'm extremely grateful to be far enough in my recovery that it doesn't affect me so much anymore but what about people who are still struggling and end up relapsing, changing their habits, their food intake or view of themselves because of a comment.

Let's practice mindfulness when talking about food, health and appearance. You truly never know what someone is going through.

Eating disorders and disordered eating are so much more common than you think and just because someone hasn't been diagnosed doesn't mean they aren't struggling.

Lastly, that goes for you too, change your thoughts and words for you too.

Because you deserve to exist peacefully in your body and mind.

And it's a lot easier to be kind to others when you're being kind to yourself.

Keep going x

The Knight of the Flowers (1894)