By Emma Di Salvo
Imagine, if you would, a world where you did exactly what you wanted when you wanted. A world in which you don’t have to think about calories, kick that bad habit that everyone keeps nagging you about or hit the snooze button because you don’t need to set the alarm for the morning. Instead of doing what you “should” be doing, simply doing what you feel like doing. Sounds like heaven, right? Well, for a lot of people, intuitive living has allowed this fantasy to become a reality.
When my editor assigned me this article, it felt like it came at a time when I was grappling with these very questions. I’ve spent countless hours pondering this subject, and I’m still not sure I have an answer that completely satisfies me. How much should we listen to other people, and how much should we trust our gut instinct? This is a journey I’m still on, and I invite you to join me.
What Is Intuitive Living?
Intuitive living doesn’t necessarily equate to careless living or acting irresponsibly. It’s about listening to yourself first and foremost and knowing it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s about eradicating the toxic self-talk that we are all guilty of from time to time and realising that the person who knows us best is actually us.
Living your life this way presents its own challenges because intuitive living means that instead of basing our decisions on evidence or rational thought, we rely solely on our feelings to guide us. This sounds scary, and again, I have not yet made up my mind if this is something I can 100% get behind. What I do know is that as long as the decision has come from me, whether the end result is good or bad, I am happy if it is something I decided on my own.
Intuitive Eating
Body image is something that I never struggled with before, but in recent years, as the pounds have started to pile on, I have noted a definite decline in my confidence. When I think about the root cause of this unhappiness, I realise that it doesn’t come from an internal place but from comparing myself with other women’s bodies. Enter intuitive eating.
Intuitive eating is basically an “anti-diet diet.” Rather than restricting a person from eating certain types of food at certain times, it encourages eating when hungry and enjoying the experience. As someone passionate about food, this is certainly an idea I can get behind!
There are days when I want to eat healthy food and days when I want to pig out. Instead of feeling guilty for those less healthy days, why not just enjoy them? Society very much divides food into two groups: good and bad. When we are told something is bad, of course, we will feel guilty for indulging.
The Comparison Trap
This leads me to a previous point about comparing my body with those of other women. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that I am not alone in this. Research shows that a whopping 87% of women compare their bodies to images they see online, including on social media.
What is especially concerning is that studies have also indicated that young girls are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to feelings of low self-esteem regarding what they view online. This pressure can change our relationship with food, leaving an unpleasant taste in our mouths.
So, how can we avoid falling into this comparison trap? I have always found the advice, “Just don’t go on social media,” really unhelpful. Even if you avoid Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc., images of perfect women are everywhere. Moreover, it doesn’t address the problem within ourselves; it merely hides it for a while.
Self-Acceptance
A big part of intuitive living is self-acceptance. As a concept, I think this is probably one of the hardest things in life to do. It means letting go of the things you cannot control and taking a more stoic approach to daily life. Trusting that you know the answer or the right approach to something without needing to ask or be validated can be extremely positive for our mental health.
As freeing as intuitive living sounds, it’s not a viable solution for most people. Most of us, sadly, have to rely on our alarm clocks to get us out of bed in the morning. We also have deadlines and things we need to do or finish. Most of us regrettably do things at times that we don’t particularly like but must do anyway. That’s life.
Moreover, if we ate exactly what we wanted without limits or concern for our health, well, I know I’d be in trouble anyway! However, perhaps setting aside specific days for intuitive living is more doable and serves as a happy medium. This is something I am definitely going to strive for moving forward. What about you?