Dressed to kill, you appear in the doorway to the party. There’s an immediate hush among the assembled guests. Maybe a few gasps. You stride confidently across the room to the bar. Before you utter a word, the bartender hands you a glass of champagne with an admiring smile.
You turn to find the other guests clamouring around you. “You look incredible”, they gush.“You’ve lost so much weight!”. “How did you do it?”.
“Just sheer willpower and utter fabulousness”, you smirk triumphantly. You take a sip of champagne and think: “At last, I’ve arrived”.
For many people who struggle with emotion-driven overeating this – or something like it – is what success looks like. This is the dramatic Weight-loss Fantasy, the Transformation Moment, the Big Reveal. You’ve conquered your demons, mastered self-control and earned your one-way golden ticket to Acceptanceville.
It’s a fantasy you can spend your entire life chasing.
In your desperate pursuit of the success fantasy, you ignore all the small, important successes you’re achieving.
We often believe change happens in one great, big “By Jove, I’ve got it!” instant when everything magically falls into place and suddenly – Ta-Dah! – you’re the person you always thought you should be.
It’s not surprising. Images of dramatic “body transformations” are projected in the media on a daily basis – sensational “success” stories of how everything “just clicked one day” and an “unhappy overweight person” has transformed into a “thin happy person” whose life is now perfect. We’re sold the idea that change should be appearance-driven and dramatic.
No wonder I’m asked so often by new clients if I have a “magic wand” or a “magic pill” to deal with their issues (I don’t – just so you know).
The reality is that change doesn’t happen like that. Generally, it’s a series of small adjustments in several different areas that eventually amount to something really significant. Adjustments not only in your eating behaviour, but also in how you relate to yourself, other people and to the world at large.
I can feel your sense of disappointment. Not very newsworthy, is it? “Where’s my Big Moment?” I hear you cry.
But the Big Moment comes at a very high price. In order to achieve it, you have to be strict and rigid with your eating. You probably have to punish yourself at the gym. And even if you do achieve it, it may only be fleeting. No sooner have you lost weight then you’re putting it back on again. And after years of trying and failing at the Big Moment, there may well be a part of you saying “I’m just not putting myself through this hell anymore”.
Another problem is that anything less than Big Moment simply isn’t noteworthy. In your desperate pursuit of the success fantasy, you ignore all the small, important successes you’re achieving. The times you left food on your plate because you stopped eating when you were satisfied. The occasions when you supported yourself emotionally rather than beat yourself up. The instances you felt like throwing in the towel but kept going.
In despair, you ask “When will life get better?”. But life may well be getting better – it’s just that you’re not noticing it.
Forget about impressing other people and invest in yourself because, believe me, you’re a worthy investment.
So make a point of noticing.
Celebrate your successes.
All of them.
In any way that speaks to you.
You could write them down in a notebook, stick them up on Post-It Notes or start a Success Jar – do whatever feels right for you (suggestions are very welcome).
Better self-esteem and greater confidence aren’t achieved with the Big Transformation but with a steady improvement in your relationship with yourself. Making those small but important changes that will have a lasting impact on your life.
So, to truly measure success, I would offer the following suggestions:
- Surrender your attachment to the Transformation Fantasy and embrace the reality of change.You wouldn’t sign up to a 3-year university degree course and expect to understand everything and pass the final exams after 6 months. Give yourself time to make sense of what’s going on with you and allow space for change to occur.
- Wholeheartedly celebrate your successes, however small you might consider them – they’re all significant milestones in the process of recovery. Build a realistic picture of your achievements and an honest assessment of how far you’ve come. You’re not saying “I’m better than anyone else”. You’re saying “I deserve to take note of my successes because I’m as good as anyone else”.
- Forget about impressing other people and invest in yourself because, believe me, you’re a worthy investment. The Transformation Fantasy is all about attempting to make yourself acceptable to others – but change is best motivated by an internal desire to feel better, for yourself.
If you can start to care about yourself after a lifetime of neglect; if you can begin to heal your relationship with food following years of dysfunction; if you can articulate and accept the feelings you’ve always suppressed; if you can learn to value and appreciate a body you’ve only ever despised; if you can focus on your character in a world that says appearance is all that matters; if you can find the courage to discover who you really are…
…for me, that’s how you measure success.
©️ Julie de Rohan 2018.
Terrific post, Julie! I love the idea of a success jar – how motivational is that?! I think you’ve thrown some much needed light on a common fantasy, that feeling of ‘I’ve arrived’, when the reality is an everyday step by step gradual approach. I often wondered would I wake up one day thinking ‘Now I am a true minimalist’! Of course not! It’s all an evolutionary process. Thanks for the insight, Lxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
“An evolutionary process” – what a great turn of phrase and so accurate. I love how you’ve related this to your own experience of becoming a “true minimalist”, as you say it’s an incremental process, not a sudden transformation. Many thanks for your comment, Lol.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a lifelong struggle. The desire to fit in, yet stand out. Acceptance and disgrace. Achievement is only a small change away.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so many people will identify with the struggle you outline – wanting to belong, but not wanting to conform. Thank you for your comment, I hope you’re OK.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In my opinion we all desire to be special, but only in ways that are accepted. I am good, thank you for asking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
One must be strong on their own, if they are to accept themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, but it’s also OK to reach out for help when we need it – I think giving and receiving help is an important part of what makes us human. I’m glad to hear you’re OK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I concur
LikeLiked by 1 person
I consider success when I am able to wake up and great the day, live life with all its challenges and adventures… all else falls into place as destiny has determined… 🙂
“Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow remains a mystery, today is a new adventure. Greet it with open arms, a open heart, a open mind and a smile. Enjoy it because it won’t come again.” (Larry “Dutch“ Woller )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Greet, not great… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice, Dutch. It would be wonderful if we could welcome challenges as much as we do good fortune and fearlessly face each day. It’s learning to trust that everything will be OK that can be the difficulty for many. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the lovely quote.
LikeLike
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful.
LikeLike
Great essence. Can be applied to anything in life; not just weight issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, it’s best to be realistic about the process of change, not just in eating disorder recovery but with everything in life. Thank you so much for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderfully written post! I know you have been through all this because you are so ‘spot on’ in your descriptions. Even though my food struggles are behind me, I still sometimes have an inkling of the fantasy that I can lose weight and appear more pleasing to others. Fortunately, the allure of that fantasy doesn’t mesmerize me like it used to. I have so many reasons to be happy with myself that don’t include being thin! And you are so right, the small successes add up to a much better life than I ever expected to have. Thank for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love that – “I have so many reasons to be happy with myself that don’t include being thin” – I would wish that for everyone. That’s the main problem with the Transformation Fantasy – it’s about trying to be acceptable to other people, rather than accepting and loving ourselves. Thanks for your comment, Merri, I always enjoy hearing your experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post, and thank you for this! I think we all measure it differently, but this post definitely helps us understand!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for reading and for your feedback – I’m really pleased this post was useful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afternoon Julie! Thank you for such an inspiring post.
Please have a look at my latest post, I have nominated you for the Blogger Recognition award 🙂 Kaya x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Kaya. That’s so very kind of you, thank you very much. I’m afraid I don’t participate in awards but I’m touched that you thought of me. Many congratulations on your award.
LikeLike
Hi Julie, thank you ever so much. You’re welcome, and no problem I understand. Have a wonderful evening x
LikeLiked by 1 person
And you, Kaya.
LikeLiked by 1 person