Relying on your "kind question journal” is a powerful practice that helps you not only be more at ease around food but helps you build a more satisfying life.

How it works

Create a minimum of a ten minute quiet and private space for yourself.  Watch your breath for three or four inhales and exhales. Round up and drop your shoulders two or three times for tension release.  Then, in your "kind question journal" write out your question.

For example, you might write,  “What would nourish my heart and soul today?”

Stay real.  You may have three small children, visiting relatives, a tighter budget than usual and a bad hair day. You may be out of work or afraid of losing a job you don’t like.  You may be alone because people you care about are out of reach.

Allow your wise self to respond to your kind question. 

Examples of Possible Responses:

Read a poem;

Take a 10 minute walk or a 10 minute bath;

Read a story to your child with cuddles and no interruptions;

Have a spiritual time out in reading or prayer or meditation;make something pretty;

Write a letter expressing appreciation to the love in your life;

Get rid of some clutter;

Fix something that’s been untended for a long time;

Finish a project or put time in on a project you've neglected;

Play a silly game that makes you and someone else laugh;

Go to a park or museum and surround yourself with beauty

Then, schedule a time on this day to follow your wisdom instructions.

The hard part is not thinking of the answers.  The hard part is remembering to ask yourself the kind question.

Examples of Kind Questions

Examples of kind question to use until you develop your own:

“What do I need? What's the first step I can take toward achieving that today?"

"What are my real priorities today?"

"What do I care most about?"

"How can I create peace with x?"

"How can I do everything I want to do?" (Be patient and gentle on this. The answer may be that you can’t, and that’s okay. )

Follow up with, "What can I realistically do, just for today?"

Benefits

Over time, as you follow the guidance of your own wisdom, you will be nourishing yourself in meaningful ways.  Food will no longer be the answer to your needs.  Once you ask your real questions you will find that your internal wisdom provides much better answers than your eating disorder. Knowing your real issues empowers you to progress on your eating disorder recovery path.

How is this working for you?