We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time. T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Do you know what liminal space is?

If not, know it means a “threshold” and is found in the literature of religion and research related to transitions. It is an in-between space, often symbolized by a door to the next stage of your journey of change. …Sometimes we easily walk through a threshold, other times we need to linger before crossing through the threshold door. It is this lingering ….

As someone who's been in the field of dietetics for quite some time, I recall the days when a file cabinet was the quickest resource available.

Back then, providing clients with background material meant relying solely on hard copies (if you had a copy machine nearby), with no internet, Google searches, or social media at our disposal. Fast forward to today….

When starting a journey most of us like to have a map of where we are going. Over the years, I’ve seen many such roadmaps for making lifestyle changes. Some are in the form of a fad diet or a 10 minute exercise routine or some other program with strict guidelines/rules to achieve your goal. While these can be a great way to jumpstart a plan, they usually fall short in the long-term.

Today, we’ll explore another aspect of this phenomenon: Space. Not the final frontier mentioned in Star Trek, but brain space or the amount of emotional energy one has for taking on life and all its responsibilities.

I’ve found the best way to head off a binge is by using Behavior Chains. This method asks you to trace all the steps (or links of a chain) that lead to a binge. Sometimes it will be just a couple of steps, other times there will be many steps and they will happen over weeks of time.

Part II we’ll talk about how to avoid or get rid of binge-eating all together by developing a game plan and identifying Behavior Chains.

Binging, overeating – who knew the answer would lie in a three-fer: mind, body and spirit.  Not with  teeth grinding willpower as most folks think- but in a way that honors you and your humanity (not to mention your physical need for nourishment).  

There is a saying in politics “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”  Have you heard this before? Maybe you have used it yourself?  Take a moment to hold the phrase with the goals you have set for yourself: both the ones spoken, and most importantly, the ones that are unspoken- aka the Silent To-Do List*.

The Relationship Between Grief and Trauma: “Trauma is a form of loss, and this deep loss results in grief, often unresolved."

The first 3 stages -Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Competent- focus on the learner acquiring knowledge and gradually gaining confidence in their ability to apply this knowledge to their own lives via guided practical experience, much like an internship or practicum.

I have found most of us yearn for our acts of nourishment to happen effortlessly, where it is just second nature and needing little attention.

I consider deep breathing one of the best kept secrets of successful nourishment and is one of the few tools that involves mind, body, and spirit. While it may not seem related to food or nourishment, in general, increasing lung function through deep breathing starts and maintains changes, both big and small, throughout your body.

It is a good time to stop and assess what has happened with my personal goals, not just the ones related to health. What is working? What went out the window in the twinkling of an eye in January? What course adjustments would Ilike to make over the summer? Are there special events that will make change hard?

Reflect for a moment on who in your community or circle of friends allows you to show up with no filters? This is a story of when a dear friend showed up as my Witness.

As we continued the conversation, I finally took a deep breath and stopped talking, then I stopped thinking…and finally, finally landed in my heart. And there, where I least expected it, was the answer. “She deserved better.”

As I listened to his story, I realized it offered the perfect tale of mind-body-spirit coming together for the healing and management of a chronic disease. I invited Bill to record a conversation with me about his journey via zoom to share with others. Enjoy!