Food Addiction and Procrastination
I just got back from a trip to South Carolina. It was so nice to get away with my friend, enjoy the sunshine, time away, and a change of scenery. We went to the Myrtle Beach area.
And I hate to say it, but I didn’t make the best choices when it came to food.
I know what I should be eating.
I know what makes my body feel good.
I know what creates inflammation for me.
And yet… being out of my normal routine, eating in restaurants, and just being “away”… I found myself making choices I wouldn’t normally make at home.
When I’m home, I have a pattern. A rhythm. Habits that support me. I make good choices at home about 90% of the time.
But when that structure is gone?
Something else takes over. I asked myself: Did I even try to eat healthy?
I’d say I made good choices about 50% of the time.
And that’s where this gets interesting.
Because there are actually two things happening when we struggle within to change a behavior we know isn’t good for us.
The first is obvious:
👉 habits and routines matter – they help tremendously!
But the second is deeper:
👉 there is often a benefit to the “bad” behavior we say we want to change
In fact, this “benefit” is often why we start an unhealthy behavior to begin with, and it can often create an addiction. Then even though we don’t get the benefit anymore, we can’t stop doing it. The only benefit for continuing to do it is that it’s painful to stop, and we don’t want to deal with the craving.
Back to me on my trip, I could see it clearly.
There was a part of me — my “inner kid” — that simply wanted to have fun.
To enjoy.
To indulge.
To not follow the rules or try to discipline myself.
And in that moment, I let the kid win.
Not because I lack discipline.
But because there was a payoff.
And I promised myself it was only for the short term, so it wouldn’t really hurt me.
But it got me thinking about why this payoff idea is true for so many of the patterns we struggle with.
You know what you should change. Why aren’t you changing? Because there is a benefit to staying with the bad habit.
- Overeating may bring comfort
- Procrastination may relieve pressure
- Avoidance may reduce fear
- Staying where we are may feel safer than stepping into something new
- Long term discomfort is better than short term pain and suffering (addictions)
- Frankly, it just feels too hard (in the moment) to change
From a subconscious perspective, this is not just resistance, and it’s not random.
The behaviors you have trouble changing are protective patterns.
Your brain is always asking:
👉 What keeps me safe?
👉 What feels familiar?
And sometimes, what feels safe in the moment…
conflicts with what we consciously want to change in the long term.
That’s why willpower alone often doesn’t work.
Because you’re not just changing a behavior.
You’re interrupting a pattern that has been serving a purpose.
Real change begins when we slow down enough to understand that purpose.
Not judge it.
Not fight it.
But become curious about it. Once that reason is brought into your consciousness, then you can reduce the resistance.
Reflection for this week:
When you get quiet, gently ask yourself:
👉 What is this behavior doing for me?
👉 And what might change if I let it go?
You may be surprised by what comes up.
🌿 Invitation
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing more about how the subconscious mind, stress, and internal patterns influence our daily lives.
Now I’d like to invite a small number of readers to experience this work more directly.
I’m opening my calendar for a limited number of complimentary hypnotherapy sessions focused on:
- reducing stress
- building confidence
- shifting patterns that no longer serve you
These are 60-90-minute Zoom sessions that include preparation, the guided experience, and time to reflect afterward.
If something in this series of topics has resonated with you… simply reply to this email and let me know you’re interested, and we’ll find a time that works. This is the last time I’ll be offering free sessions to new clients. The offer expires May 30, 2026 for a free session.
You don’t need more willpower.
You need to understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
It’s feels so good to have healthy habits that support us over the long term. And it’s also okay to break the rules sometimes and go wild! Now, it’s back to healthy for me, and no harm done.
To a better life,
Maureen
