Instead of focussing on control this Easter, try moving your intentions here...

If your mind is stuck on a theme of “control” this Easter, consider whether you could hold some different “C” intentions…..

Calm: Take a breath when you feel your thoughts start to move fast. Your mind will likely overinflate the gravity of your choices and the impact of one weekend or even one week of eating differently. Cultivating calm helps us make choices with wisdom.

Clarity: Recognise and filter out perceptions and distorted beliefs you may be holding, perhaps absorbed from diet culture, or other people.Try to hold an awareness of YOUR appetite, nourishment needs, sensory needs, thoughts, emotions and values.Making choices with clarity allows us to perceive situations accurately without distortion and take balanced action.

Compassion: Easter can be tricky time if you have a disrupted relationship with food. Whether its feeling out of control, or beint terrified of losing it, it is important to offer yourself compassion. Being harsh and critical usually only makes things worse.

Compassion doesn’t necessarily mean endorsing or accepting all behaviours, but it does mean validating and holding space for the emotions behind them.

Courage: Courage is strength in the face of threat or challenge. What would courage mean to you over the Easter weekend?

...To choose your own path despite someone’s helpful comments?

...To approach your Easter sweets with ‘AND’ rather than ‘instead of’ (eg in addition to your usual nutrition, not in place of)

...To embrace some gorgeous sunshine, sand and waves despite difficult body image thoughts?

....For what it's worth, chocolate is certainly one of my Easter intentions as well 🍫🐰🤤.

-Kate Lane, APD, CEDC-D