Hi ,
If you want to learn a new skill or become good at anything, you need to practice. The same goes for developing new health habits, practicing intuitive eating, or learning new life skills to overcome emotional overeating. You must practice your new habits or skills until they become a part of you. The longer you do this, the less likely it is to fall back into your old ways of doing things.
Adults are often set in their ways and like to stick to the comfort of what they know. This becomes an impediment to learning new ways of doing and being. In order to change, we must step outside of our comfort zones.
Learning and practicing new habits and ways of being means being uncomfortable and making mistakes. If you have perfectionistic tendencies, this can be especially bothersome, as you often have unrealistic expectations of yourself. You may expect yourself to be good at something right away, and if you're not, you quit.
These unrealistic expectations often lead to impatience. It takes time to learn new skills and you must allow room for yourself to stumble and fall. If you have a harsh inner critic, or inner slave driver that pushes you relentlessly, this part of you will show no mercy for your human fallibilities.
That's why it's so important to learn to be gentle and compassionate with yourself as you attempt to make changes. You don't need self-criticism, you need self-encouragement and support. It takes great courage and vulnerability to change.
