How You Can Help Yourself and Stop the Spread of Emotional Obesity
Take your power back from this silent condition
This stealth disease doesn’t get much press.
You may not even know you’re suffering from it.
Not many have even heard of it, I suppose. I am not sure if there is a clinical name or even a qualified medical term. As such, I have taken it upon myself to give it one. There’s no disputing that it exists. It is all-powerful and suffocating to many.
I call it “Emotional Obesity.”
Most should be familiar with the commonly used term obesity, as a physical condition, and the concerning epidemic in our Country. Simply put, and taken from the World Health Organization:
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. They are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
There is a ton of information available to address a spike in the bathroom scale. Fad diets come and go and, honestly, don’t usually have staying power. I’ve tried almost all of them, without long-term success, so I switched gears.
Through trial and error, I crafted a nutritionally satisfying eating plan. For me and by me. It works. My main meals consist of mostly seafood and vegetables. By eating healthy 90% of the time, I am free to indulge. If I want cheesecake, the whole Cheeseburger Pie from Domino’s ~ SO delicious ~ or an entire package of Oreo’s, I do it on my terms. I took the time to learn what works for me.
So, what is Emotional Obesity?
When I googled these words, to make sure I was truly coining a new term that I love, I did find references to emotional obesity. However, it was predominately tied to emotional triggers resulting in obesity and/or obesity causing emotional distress.
In my mind, however, my term has no physical connotation. It’s a stand-alone concept.
Emotional Obesity
My definition of emotional obesity: The unresolved issues and conflicts, big and small, that we carry around with us and make us mentally heavy. One who is suffering by being laden and burdened with past negative interactions.
I equate emotional baggage as just that, baggage or a backpack of sorts, crammed to the brim, with unanswered questions of unfinished business.
So why aren’t sufferers unpacking? That damn backpack stays stuck to a body and gets schlepped everywhere.
Relief is attainable.
People are so cautious, hesitant, and embarrassed to acknowledge that they are emotionally obese. Mental Health doesn’t get the proper respect it deserves.
Let’s change that with unabashed communication. The more we de-sensationalize the topic, the more commonplace it will become.
So, how do we shed our extra emotional weight?
Putting your head in the sand, keeping it buried, and saying you’re okay, is much like a fad diet. It will eventually fail. Start small and slowly check each one of the following off my tested list:
Unpacking Your Emotional Baggage
- Look In the Mirror
- Forgive Yourself for your Humanness
- Embrace Your Shortcomings
- Find the Lesson
- Forgive those who may not deserve it. You do.
- Let Go and move forward
Once you clear the hurdle and realize that you are NOT supposed to control other people, not their actions or their words, you will whet your appetite to unpack even more. Relieving yourself of that self-imposed pointless responsibility will lighten your load, immediately.
Focus on you. Your integrity, your character, and your self-worth should be your priority. Outside affirmations are wonderful but should not be misused as a reason to exist. Your inner voice, only, should be your guiding force.
See some helpful reminders or things to ponder in your quest to rid the emotional weight and add things to create your personalized list.
Things You Need to Know
You may never get the answers that you seek.
Truth and justice are not absolutes.
Your value and worth are not based on other people’s opinions of you.
Looking behind you serves a purpose, as a reference. Staring behind you too long is never going to change an outcome.
Maybe things happened. They weren’t pretty. You can’t change them. You can only change how you view them now.
Empty that backpack, piece by piece. Let’s put an end to Emotional Obesity. Ready to unload?
You deserve to do it. For you.