Why do we feel like we have to justify our pleasure?

Or we feel like we have to earn our pleasure. We have to get all our work done first. There’s too much to do; we can’t enjoy ourselves until it’s done. Often our brains will convince us that if we don’t get it all done the work will just keep piling up and we’ll never be able to keep up. So we can’t afford to have some pleasure until it’s all done. And sometimes our brains just won’t let us. We’ll be trying to relax and watch a movie or show, but all we can do is think about all the stuff we should be doing.

Often food is a way to silence that ‘shoulding.’ Like I mentioned in last week’s episode, we often struggle actually resting or partaking in pleasure because we feel such shame when we do – because again, we live in a society that regards hard work and self-control as morally superior. It must mean we’re lazy and weak or out of control if we choose to rest or experience in pleasure that’s just for us – with no benefits to our appearance or the wellbeing of others.

I want you to unburden yourself from the pressure of doing everything perfectly. I want you to unburden yourself from the shame around doing things that you love and enjoy even though they don’t benefit others or your physical appearance or are what you’re quote ‘supposed to do.”

You don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying yourself. Even if it looks like sitting on TikTok while eating chips. Even if it’s watching a trashy tv show while snacking on cookies.

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