Your Food and Body Image Shadow Beliefs - The Shadow Effect Week 1

Week 1: Your Food and Body Image Shadow Beliefs

Oprah.com | May 03, 2010

The body is a vessel for self-expression. It is a holy temple to be honored, to be loved and to be listened to. So why do we stuff ourselves with foods that make us feel bad or potentially make us sick? Why do we spend years tolerating our bodies, hating them for what they are or what they are not? Why do we get up in the morning, look in the mirror and have something less than inspiring to say to ourselves about what we see? Debbie Ford shines a light on your shadow habits.

The answer to the why is the shadow—the emotions, the beliefs, the habits and the patterns stored deep inside the psyche. Some of them are ours and some are adopted from our culture, family or friends. This week, in The Shadow Effect Breakthrough Program, you will expose the shadow of your body and begin the process of finding true freedom to make life-changing choices.

What's your shadow food? Take the poll!

When you're stressed out and can't sleep, what do you sneak to the refrigerator to munch on? When you're going out to eat after a long week, what do you order? No matter what the situation, everyone has a shadow food. Take some time to really think about what your go-to favorites are, and find out what others like to indulge in, too. Take the poll now!

What Is the Relationship You Have with Your Body?

Are you ready to examine your life with the intention of identifying some of your shadow behaviors? If so, find a quiet place to listen to the podcast. Keep a pen and paper nearby to take notes for self-reflection and growth, using the worksheet provided. Remember, as you begin to face the blocks that have been holding you back, that it's important to be kind to yourself and drop any self-judgment. You are doing deep work that will reward you in ways you have only imagined.

Listen to the Food and Body Image podcast

Download and print out the worksheet

Use the time this week to listen to the visualization podcast, review the worksheet and share your comments on your progress with the Oprah.com community or with The Shadow Effect Facebook group that Debbie Ford has created to support you throughout the plan.

Explore More on the Shadow:
What is the shadow?
Can you identify the shadow working in your life? Take the quiz!
What's your shadow food? Take the poll!
What to expect from The Shadow Effect plan
Watch The Shadow Effect movie trailer

Discover how to live your divine plan—watch now!

Try the shadow trick exercise

Debbie Ford is the New York Times best-selling author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers and The Secret of the Shadow. Her other national best-selling books include The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse, The Right Questions, Spiritual Divorce and The Best Year of Your Life. She collaborated with Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson for their book, The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self (HarperOne). She is the founder of the Ford Institute for Transformational Training. Visit her online at DebbieFord.com.

Printed from Oprah.com on Thursday, June 20, 2013