Why I Broke Up With Sugar

by Tiffany | Feb 20, 2013 | Challenge, Goals, Success

I’m choosing to forgo my formal “Success Tips” today in lieu of having a candid conversation with you.

You know how some things you love are simply just bad for you? Or perhaps too much of something or someone isn’t great for you? Sometimes too much of a good thing can throw us off balance.

Perhaps for you or someone you love, it may be a serious alcohol or drug or gambling addiction. It could also be an addiction to social media or television as a way of staying numbed out. It shows up in staying in a relationship that isn’t healthy for you or perhaps it’s constantly maxing out your credit card hoping the newest pair of shoes or handbag will feed the shopper’s high in helping you fill the void.

We all have addictions.

Some are extremely serious, as in life threatening. And some are not as serious at first glance, yet can steal our peace, confidence, and our greatest resource, our time.

One of my addictions has been sugar. I love cookies, cakes, cupcakes,  chocolate, and hot cocoa. These are lovely things to be enjoyed yet too much of them can make you sick, tired, overweight, exhausted, etc. And in all transparency, sometimes the sweets for me cover up what I’m not wanting to feel or address emotionally.

So it was time for us to take a break, Mr. Sugar and I.

Today I am 50 days sugar clean of a 90 day public commitment to let go of sugar in the forms of sweets and treats. I am eating fruit or natural forms of sugar. Some days have been easy and some days it’s been hell. It’s been a good challenge for me to find many delicious recipes that are sweet yet without processed sugar. The first 10 days were the most challenging physically as my body was detoxing sugar out of my system. Yet what’s been interesting is the emotional component behind why I often reach for sweets – many times I would reach for sweets out of boredom or feeling lonely. As that craving comes up, I’ve been asking myself, “what do I really want” and then listening to what my intuition tells me. It’s been a very interesting process of insightful learning.

Now I’m not saying that my sugar addiction compares to someone struggling with drugs or alcohol or say gambling or pornography. Yet we all have things we may turn to in filling the emotional voids we struggle with in life to numb out, feel better, or bandaid the wounds we deal with.

So before you get depressed reading this, I want to share that there is great healing and empowerment that comes when we are willing to muster the courage to look at what is creating the real pain, the cravings, or temptations behind our behaviors. We can change. We can regain control over our lives, bodies, our time, and ultimately our destiny.

So consider for yourself, are you numbing out or avoiding what isn’t working in your life?

Are you covering up feelings of low self worth or loneliness with pornography, food, shopping, or incessant time on social media?

Are you procrastinating pursuing your dreams with living on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest?

Are you covering your loneliness for real connection with online relationships?

With awareness comes the ability to make new choices.

With new choices, we shape the quality of our lives.

When we are willing to work through the emotional voids and wounds we feel by facing them, we take our power back.

As a mentor of mine has repetitively taught me, “The best way out is through.” To face the discomfort versus run, hide, or cover it.

I embarked upon my sugar cleanse for a variety of reasons – I wanted to see if there was a real difference in my energy that others claim. I wanted more mental clarity and spiritual discernment. I wanted to influence my body pH to be in an alkaline state. And overall, I wanted the self mastery challenge to show I can do it. Some people climb Everest, some of us give up sugar. Both will bring about intense learning for the participant.

I am learning that my word tastes better than anything I could eat – that honoring my integrity as I gave my word to my inner circle that I would do this – is the sweetest dessert there is.

I am learning that I am stronger than any craving or red velvet cupcake that I’m presented with…(it does help not to inhale the scent of freshly baked goods).

I am learning that I have some things in me that need some attention and healing.

I am learning that doing the things I believe I cannot do is the biggest surge of human excitement – and confidence – there is.

I am learning to be more compassionate with myself and with others as we all have our mountains to face and addictions to heal.

My path with my sugar cleanse is outlined for 90 days – until April 1st. From there I’m not sure how I’ll navigate it. I’m not saying that I won’t have sugar ever again, yet I know that I will be more aware than I ever have been related to how much of it I’m consuming. If anything, that is a Universal lesson for us all – is simply waking up to how much we’re consuming on auto pilot. For you that mean the Internet for others it’s food or sugar or shopping. Becoming aware of what we are doing – conscious creation – is a powerful place to live our lives from.

So here’s my COACHING ASSIGNMENT to you this week…

Grab your notebook or journal and consider your thoughts & responses to the following introspective questions:

• Where in my life am I over indulging? Why am I doing that?
• Where in my life am I putting off something that no longer works for me? Why am I doing that?
• Where in my life am I giving my power, money, or time away to? Why am I doing that?
• What would I rather experience? Why is that important to me?
• What do I CHOOSE?

I do believe that no matter what you face that there is always hope for positive change. That as an aware human being that you also can master any challenge or temptation that besets you. You have the courage to create the life that your heart desires. You have what it takes to face what isn’t working and fix it, heal it, or remove it. Where there is choice, there is power.

I believe in you, my friend and fellow traveler on the path.

With love & gratitude,

Tiffany