30 Days of Perfection: Day 9 ~ Chocolate Therapy

I ran the numbers and yesterday I got a "B". Yeah, for me!! "Habits" and "Whole Health" were my struggle areas. I really do want to change my habits and take better care of myself, but this stuff is seriously engrained. Well, I can't expect to completely change habits I've had for 40 something years in a week! Let's be realistic.

At the moment, I'm resisting chocolate therapy. Some major stressors popped up yesterday, and carried into today. I'm coping, but would kill for a moment's peace with a little chocolate. There's something about eating chocolate that is a gift to myself. A reward for dealing with life's crap.

I know the physical science between chocolate and dopamine, but there's more to it.  It's psychological. It's something we learn in childhood.  If you do a good job, you get a treat.  If chocolate isn't my prize, what is? They say to change a behavior, you need to replace it with something else. What can replace chocolate?? It's immediate, it's accessible, it's delicious.

So, I need something that I really enjoy that I  can get to easily and quickly.  Music, books, writing, coffee...I'm writing and drinking coffee right now. It's keeping me from chocolate, but doesn't feel like a treat. Maybe I need to go old school and make a mix-tape (or rather a playlist) for these moments. I'll name it "Songs for Stress", "Better Than Chocolate", or "Music Munchies". Something catchy and juvenile.  Songs that are bad ass and demand to be played cranked up.  And songs that are deep, mellow, and soothing. These moments need a little of both. I'm thinking Guns-N-Roses and Simon & Garfunkle.

My teenage go-to music. The message is "I'm angry and want something to make me feel better."  What is it about stress that taps into my adolescence and triggers a chocolate craving? Wow, this is getting heavy. Time to put away the blog, and get out the journal.