LTN Newsletter #48

The Gut-Brain Axis 101, Why Sleep Consistency Is So Important, Commentary on the Weight Loss Industry and More.

“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.”
- Alfred Adler

Happy Sunday!

I hope you’re somewhere cozy and/or relaxing with a mug of something that peaks your taste buds and soothes soul. It’s Saturday evening for me; and I’m sipping on some peppermint tea with a side of 72% dark chocolate that I picked up at Eataly this week.

First, some changes to the weekly PAID subscription…

To shorten the weekly newsletter (and make it a more “leisurely” weekend read), I am removing the “Podcast of the Week” section. Instead, I will be sending a “bonus” newsletter sometime during the week. Essentially, I will listen to a podcast that I think is relevant or interesting and provide my personal and professional thoughts on it in “real time.”

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The above quotation by Alfred Adler is one that I’ve come back to time and again. It is an empowering message if the meaning you’re giving to a situation is not only the truth but also serving you. We have the control to determine how an event, comment, set-back, challenge, etc. ‘defines’ us.

In order to decide how a certain “situation” impacts us, we must first be aware of our thoughts. Oftentimes, the “meaning we give to situations” is unconscious or automatic. We rarely stop our thoughts in their tracks to assess their validity.

With some clients, I will provide an assignment on challenging thoughts, particular those that are distorted. An example of this looks like:

Situation: Adam didn’t call me this weekend.

Automatic thought: He obviously doesn’t want to be with me. He probably thinks I’m not attractive. 

This person is determining that she is unworthy and unattractive, even though the situation is vague and may not actually be what’s going on.

A way to counter this thought (ie determine a new meaning for the situation) would be challenge that automatic thought.

Counter-thought: You have no idea why he didn’t call, and you are jumping to conclusions. He’s only ever told you that you’re beautiful and has never made negative comments about your body. You need to wait and find out the truth of the situation.

To have a better (and more realistic) relationship with ourselves, our body image or self esteem, we must be able to ‘catch’ how we’re interpreting certain situations.

It applies to every “situation” in life, so give it a try this week.

Lydia

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