Eating Mindfully: Your Key to Healthy Living [Article]

by Lorrie Jones, Kelly Lenihan (Editor)

Our culture has indoctrinated most of us, particularly women, to believe media-defined thinness and beauty will bring happiness, bliss and self-love. Unfortunately, this is not true. Having gained and lost over 1,900 pounds during a decade of my life, I know the emotional pain of feeling physically unacceptable and how debilitating it can be. Eating emotionally can become a way of life and compulsive behavior can become an attempt to manage feelings only to have the compulsions manage us in the end. When a pattern of compulsive overeating, emotional eating, under eating or rigid dieting or control is established, we often believe the “problem” is about the the endless loyalty and dedication we create pushing ourselves to be better, thinner—different from who we are. While we may have succeeded in changing certain behaviors—perhaps even losing some weight—we have failed to understand and experience the deep level of change necessary for healing, growth and lifetime health. The journey of healing from unhealthy eating habits starts where you are. Any change, large or small, begins with self awareness and clear intention. If you are willing to take a little time each day to become mindfully in touch with yourself, to delve, discover and transform out-dated ways of thinking and behaving into a more compassionate and truthful way of navigating life, and to leave behind all that is familiar and comfortable, making way for fresh, new and vibrant living—then I invite you to read Eating Your Key to Healthy Living—and start honoring yourself today by embracing true and lasting change that comes from self acceptance, compassion and purpose, not discipline or dieting! Daily habits are the best way to make change happen and by doing something every day, it becomes a habit. Eating Mindfully is meant as an introductory overview and is not a full-length book. (3,669 words).

19 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Meet Lorrie Jones, MBSR, CHT, BSN and Founder of Simple Serenity LLC. Lorrie has been supporting people on their journey toward optimal health and wellness for over half her adult life. Dedicated to fostering mindfulness, self-discovery and personal transformation in wellness and well being, Lorrie provides education, consultation and coaching in the most effective principles and practices of Mindfulness and Hakomi therapies, encompassing a “mind-body” approach to health and wholeness. Holding professional certification in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), Hakomi Therapy (CHT), and a BS in Nursing (BSN), qualifies Lorrie to offer state-of-the-art professional programs and mindfulness practices designed to educate, inspire and motivate in creating a life of vibrant and sustainable health and well-being. As a wellness practitioner, educator and coach, she has served individuals, groups, and hospitals with her expertise in health issues, advanced professional training in stress reduction, extensive research in mind-body healing and dedication to learning and personal growth. From this rich soil of commitment, challenge and achievement, she is able to offer holistic, nurturing and healing programs. Lorrie is available for media interviews and speaking to your group.

Lorrie’s other passions and interests include traveling (adventure), family gatherings (love), fun with friends (connection), gardening (peace), writing (creativity), cooking (nourishment), creating lovely spaces (beauty), and poetry (soul nurture).

In addition to her therapeutic work, Lorrie has written a series of guidebooks to support people with their healing. A lifelong learner, Lorrie’s credentials include but are not limited to: Certification in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR); Certification in Hakomi Therapy (CHT); BS Nursing (BSN); Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP); Hospice Care Volunteer; WA State Certified Counselor.