I think it’s pretty common in our culture to put people, places and things in front of what we need and value most, connection with our deepest, truest self. In my case that was binge-eating sweet, greasy, bready things. But it could be really anything. Busy-ness. Thinking instead of acting. Acting instead of thinking. TV. Being angry all the time. Worrying every minute. Taking on too many responsibilities. Etc. Anyway, here are a couple of exercises I thought you’d enjoy:

When negative feelings and thoughts rise up, soften your belly. Drop your shoulders. Even if you’re the negativity starts to intrude or entrenches itself, breathe deep, release the tension. Connect with all your senses, one at a time. Come back to your body. Come back to the moment. You can deal with any single moment, if you deal only with that moment.

Greet every single feeling you have with an open heart. Just hold it gently with love, and breathe normally. Don’t push, judge, analyze or try to decide. The feeling itself will inform you what it is, what it needs, what (if anything) you should do. This is loving yourself. This is being honest with yourself. This is being truly alive.