Recovering from an eating disorder is HARD. We often lose sight of why we started recovery in the first place, or wonder if it’s even worth it. Whether you’ve been working at recovery for years or are just beginning your journey, the mantras and coping statements below are meant to inspire you, uplift you, and ground you in your commitment to healing.
Now, I know what you may be thinking–do mantras really work? And I can’t blame you for being skeptical. It can feel awkward or forced to tell yourself positive affirmations, especially when you are used to being self critical. However, evidence suggests that utilizing mantras as a daily practice can actually change our conscious and subconscious thoughts, rewiring the way that we think. A 2022 meta-analysis showed that incorporating mantras into a daily routine significantly improved mental health. *
If you are interested in starting a mantra-based practice, the statements below are a good place to begin. If none of these speak to you, that’s okay! Feel free to make up your own. Once you’ve chosen a couple of statements that resonate, there are a few ways to incorporate them in your daily routine: You can journal about them, or speak them out loud in the mirror. You can also take time to meditate on them, or write them on sticky notes as reminders around your home.
When it comes to eating disorder recovery, there is always hope! My goal in sharing these mantras is to remind you of that.
- I am stronger than my eating disorder.
- I am becoming the best version of myself.
- The more I practice a coping skill, the easier it will be in the future.
- Small progress is still progress.
- Feel the fear and do it anyway.
- Today I will aim for progress, not perfection.
- Engaging in an eating disorder behavior might make me feel better for a few minutes, but then I will feel worse.
- I can do hard things.
- Every day I am becoming stronger.
- I give myself permission to recover.
- I am ready to heal.
- My appearance is the least interesting thing about me.
- I cannot shame myself into loving myself.
- I am brave enough to let go.
- I will persist until I succeed.
- Life without my eating disorder is worth it.
- I do my best every day. It is okay if my best looks different each day.
- My body deserves kindness and respect.
- Today I will take things one step at a time.
- I choose the pain of growth over the pain of my eating disorder.
*Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063380
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation call with Eada, please reach out to info@embracestrengthcounseling.com.