The Inner Critic Versus the Butterfly

I’ve been blogging with you for weeks about your Inner Critic, or my Gertrude, and why they need to be put to rest, limited in their voices, and no longer allowed to speak rudely to you.

Now some may ask, “Why is Theresa spending all this time on the thoughts in my brain? Shouldn’t a dietitian be talking more about the food?” Yes, she should talk about the food, and yes, I will, but what goes on in your brain is the foundation for what goes on in your life.

And have you noticed that Renaissance has a trademark, and that it is the butterfly?

Why is that? A butterfly is a powerful symbol of transformation. This creepy crawly caterpillar eats and eats and eats. If a human ate the way the caterpillar does, s/he would gain weight, to about a thousand pounds! Then s/he makes his own private place called a chrysalis. He crawls inside, curls up in this safe place, and transforms himself.

What happens in the chrysalis? How does he do that?  Nobody knows!  I want Renaissance to be a safe place where you can learn to put down the food and transform yourself into the powerful, beautiful person you want to become. The shame and remorse you have carried so long, it has to go.  You need a few shields of love to protect and encourage you.

As the butterfly climbs out of the chrysalis, he takes with him some of the things in the chrysalis; they strengthen his wings. Then he leaves behind the parts that no longer work for him. Imagine the butterfly carrying pieces of his old body – the mistakes, faults, remorse of its past. Weighed down like that, he could not fly freely. HIS OLD LIFE HAS TO BE LEFT BEHIND.

So, it is with you. The nonsense our Inner Critic spouts at us has to be left behind. The hurt, shame, remorse, have no purpose in recovery. The butterfly cannot fly freely carrying parts of his chrysalis, and you cannot recover fully fighting the wars of your past life.

So, silence that critical voice in your mind! Let’s throw away all the hindrances of the past, the feelings, the hurts, the criticisms, and allow yourself to grow into the courageous, loving being you were meant to become.

That’s why we must fight the inner critic. We cannot fully recover if s/he is in power in our minds. We choose freedom from the fight with food; and we choose peace and joy in our lives.

Blessings to you,

Theresa