what are your expectations?

One bright sunny day you’re sitting in the park, looking sexy but glum...

I saunter on over, park my bum firmly beside you, offer you a kale crisp and ask, “What’s up, gorgeous?”

I just can’t do it, I just can’t be raw.  I can go for a few days and everything’s going well, then before I know it I’m back on the cooked food again…

I give you a wry smile and look you square in the eye.  You know something’s coming.

“Darling, let’s start at the beginning with the one thing people tend to forget, shall we?”

Oh, what’s that?

“Ex-pec-tations. Think about it, what were your expectations before you got in to this whole raw food thang?”

Well, gee.  I guess I don’t know.  I guess I didn’t really sit down and think about it too much.

“Bingo!”

I guess I thought it would be a lot easier than it is.  I mean, everyone makes it look so easy.  Why am I finding it so hard?

“Well, once we understand our big why, it’s important that we get clear on our expectations about how easy or difficult this is going to be.  This should really take place before we embark on the raw food journey or at least when things seem to be challenging.  It pays to sit back and reevaluate just what our expectations are.  Of ourselves.  Of our body.  Of our journey.  This is not an overnight deal, baby!”  

I guess I didn’t think about how long it might take.  I just wish I was there already and it wasn’t so hard.

“What would be the fun in that?  The truth is my darling that you never get there.  When you start eating raw food you just keep eating raw food until you eat something else, something cooked, something less than healthy.  You’re only really a raw foodist in the moments you’re eating raw food.

When we are thinking more about how raw we’re being or the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ around our food choices we tend to find ourselves in more stressful eating patterns than if we just relaxed.”

So you’re saying I should go easier on myself?

“Yes, but also to have more realistic expectations.  Understand that we all have moments when we judge ourselves harshly.  And I’ll tell you honey that everyone has their challenges and makes choices around what and how they eat that they’re maybe less than impressed with from time to time.”  

So I shouldn’t try and compare myself to others?

“Exactly.  Go at your own pace.  It might take you longer to get to a level of raw food intake you’re comfortable with.  You might discover that you’re already at a level that’s right for you and that you’re trying to push yourself too far at this time.”

Yeah, I think I’ve been putting myself under too much pressure.  I’m doing this for myself, not for anyone else, right?  I see it so clearly now, I need to focus on being nicer to myself and enjoying the journey.

“Yes!  Now, what say we go to the tea shop and stare at sexy men instead?”

 

And so we link arms and head in to the sunset.

Wanna make a stress free transition to raw food?  Check out So You Want To Be A Raw Foodist?