I cringe when someone says, "I am an emotional eater" or "I am a binge eater." That stake in the ground is awfully hard to pull out. When you define yourself by your actions, you leave little room for other options.
It reminds me of important parenting advice I received years ago: "Label the behavior, not the child." For example, instead of saying, "Bad girl!", you're supposed to say, "Hitting your brother is an unacceptable way to tell him you are angry. Use your words."
By objectifying the behavior and explaining why it is problematic, the child learns to recognize the effects of their choices. We allow them to experience the consequences (or create natural consequences when necessary) and guide them toward other behaviors with more desirable outcomes. More important, we create a climate of unconditional love and acceptance, no matter what choices the child makes. We affirm their intrinsic value, creating the necessary conditions for change when needed.
I believe that "label the behavior" is valuable advice for adults too.
Label the Behavior Instead
The theory behind this advice is that unlike personality characteristics, behaviors can be explored and changed. By labeling yourself (or your client) as an "emotional eater" or a "binge eater," you are setting up a self-fulfilling prophecy. Repeating this definition over and over tells your brain who you are, and therefore, what you do. Your identity as an emotional eater or binge eater will continue to drive your actions.
By approaching your difficulty with food mindfully, you become aware of your sensations, thoughts, and feelings non-judgmentally, and cultivate curiosity about the reasons for, and the consequences of, your choices. Your curiosity and willingness to examine the behavior without judgment, will help you discover the source of the behavior and therefore, possible alternatives.
You Are Not a "Labeler" Either!
The easiest way to change the habit of labeling yourself is to notice when you use "-er" ("emotional eater") then replace it with "-ing" ("emotional eating"). Here are other examples of how you can describe the behavior in a more helpful way:
- eating for emotional reasons
- eating when I feel stressed
- eating because I am bored
- eating when I am lonely
- using food for comfort
- eating to avoid confrontation
- eating to entertain myself
Notice that these objective descriptions also point you toward other options that might be more effective than eating.
Parent Thyself
So let's rework the parenting advice above into a "self-parenting" guide. (This is especially important if your own parents made mistakes by labeling you instead of your behavior. If needed, seek counseling to learn to re-parent yourself so you won't perpetuate that error.)
By observing my behavior objectively, I am able to experience the effects of my choices and the problems they create for me without judging myself. I can make more effective choices with more desirable outcomes in the future. When I love and accept myself unconditionally and affirm my intrinsic value, I create the necessary conditions for change.