At a very young age, I learnt the importance of a healthy mindset.
My first battle with anorexia was at 10 years old, which is when I first learnt this important lesson. I then slowly became equipped with the powerful tools I needed in order to recover.
Throughout my recovery, I held onto a few key mantras that supported me through my recovery journey and, in honour of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I want to share 5 powerful mantras that can support you throughout your own recovery journey.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2020 runs February 24th – March 1st and the theme for this year is: Come as You Are: Hindsight is 20/20, which encourages those of us who have battled an eating disorder to reflect on the positive steps we’ve taken to recover. For me, one of those positive steps has been improving the way I think and speak to myself and mantras have been a powerful tool in order for me to accomplish this.
5 Powerful Mantras for Eating Disorder Recovery
I am stronger than my thoughts
Disassociating ourselves from the eating disorder thoughts is a key piece for eating disorder recovery. As we disassociate ourselves from the disordered thoughts, we are then able to choose for ourselves. It sounds easier than it is, of course. As someone who has battled multiple eating disorders throughout her life, I do understand how difficult this process is, but having this mantra in your back pocket can be very powerful and will provide you with the reminder than you are, in fact, stronger than any thought you have – even the disordered ones. Especially the disordered ones.
I can do hard things
Eating disorder recovery is no easy battle, but if you believe you can do hard things, the road to recovery will be much less treacherous. Affirm that you can do hard things daily and you will begin to believe it is true; because it most definitely is. You can do this.
My body is the least interesting thing about me
Truthfully, I wish I personally had this mantra throughout my own recovery journey. When I first heard this line, a lightbulb went off in my head and it has stuck with me ever since. If you are battling an eating disorder, it is likely you are very fixated on what you look like on the outside. Many of us who battle eating disorders believe that the way our body looks is all we have to offer the world, however, our bodies are actually the least interesting thing about ourselves. Isn’t that such a breath of fresh air? This mantra is so powerful and really puts things into perspective for us.
Fear is my green light
This was my personal go-to mantra throughout my own recovery. I would repeat it to myself millions of times throughout the day, every day because fear would constantly bubble up for me, trying to convince me not to continue pushing forward with recovery. Let’s be honest, recovery isn’t just hard, it’s also scary. You will experience a lot of fear while moving through your own recovery journey, but what if you shifted the way you viewed fear? What if instead of seeing fear as something scary you wanted to run away from, you saw it as something you wanted to run toward? See fear as your green light. Understand that every time fear bubbles up for you throughout recovery, you’re doing the right thing – it’s your sign to keep moving forward.
I deserve recovery
Throughout recovery, it is likely you will face a lot of barriers and, for many of us, one of the common barriers is the belief that we deserve recovery. This belief may be held within your subconscious, but it is important that if it is holding you back from achieving full recovery, you face it head on. Is the belief of not being deserving of full recovery holding you back from truly letting your eating disorder go? This is time for radical honesty and inner reflection on your part. If so, it is important that you work with a therapist or trained coach that can support you in freeing yourself from this belief. You can also use this mantra to begin the brain rewiring process.
I hope at least one of these mantras can offer you the support you need throughout your recovery journey.
If you’re looking for more personalized support, you can view my coaching options here.
