FINDING THE SPACE BETWEEN YOUR URGES AND BINGEING

Once you’ve become more aware of your leprechaun’s evil words and your urges to binge, take a closer look at the space between the two. It will help you realize that, even though the urges are automatic, your behavior isn’t.

There’s always at least a moment or, as I call it, a “space” between. When can you choose differently and learn to be more accepting of your urges to binge?

The two are separate. There’s space between.

Of course, over time, this has become a habit. That little green irritating leprechaun is firmly holding on; it’s as if he has his claws gripping your shoulder, and this pattern becomes a regular habit. The good news is that you have a choice and can learn to change your habits.

Let's look again at your bulimic cycle.

YOUR BULIMIC CYCLE INCLUDING YOUR SPACE BETWEEN:

This diagram shows where exactly “a space” is between your urges and your binges.

The only reason you binge is to remove your uncomfortable “urges to binge.” If you could learn to be more accepting of your binge urges, they wouldn’t cause you as much bother. Then you would be in a better position to ignore them.

As long as you’ve stopped restricting your food and providing your body with eating regularly, then the binge urge means nothing = zilch!

ITS TIME TO EMBRACE YOUR SPACE

Often, we get swept away with the thoughts and feelings of panic and the habit of bingeing and act on our urges immediately. But the more you can understand your specific patterns, the easier it is to begin to change it.

For me, I thought the leprechaun would shout so loudly that eventually, it would spring to life and beat me to death! It didn’t, but I felt powerless. If I had learned to sit with the panic feelings, realize that nothing actually happened, that I was okay, my life didn’t end, the fear hadn’t killed me, then I wouldn’t have binged.

Your binge urge is just patterns of thinking and feeling. They’re like any other thoughts and feelings, and it's your choice to listen to them. They don’t have the power to control you; you have a choice.

·        So, however loud your leprechaun is, and however strong your feelings are, slowly begin to allow the feelings to be there, choosing to accept them.

·        Continually resist what your leprechaun and your feelings are telling you to do. Instead, tell yourself, “I can cope with these thoughts and feelings.”

·        See how long you can sit with them; start with 30 seconds, continually repeating, “I can cope with these thoughts and feelings.” Then, once you’ve cemented your 30 seconds and can ignore the negativity, extend the length of time and build from there.

The longer you can sit with your urges and your space in-between rather than act on them. The sooner they’ll become less intense and loosen their grip on you. Giving you even more space between your urges and your binge.

Over time, they’ll begin to reduce and eventually dissolve.