Happy Valentine’s Give-Back Diet day 42.  Welcome, and thanks for being here.

I’ll keep it short today.  Give yourself some love, by realizing that your feelings are just thoughts.  That’s right: emotions are only thoughts.  They don’t necessarily need any action, as they’re just feelings.

Yes, of course feelings are real.  Yes, they can have a big effect on you, but that’s only if you choose to let them motivate you.

The other truth about emotions is that they can be changed.  As much as they are thoughts, the truth is that you are the gatekeeper, and you can decide to go with a particular emotion or not.  There’s just no need to let your emotions control you.

I want to make one important point:  sometimes if emotions are out of control, then that’s a different situation. If emotions are strongly affecting you negatively, or if your emotions are all the same, that could mean it’s more than thoughts – it could be a physical or psychological condition.  Then, it’d be a good idea to seek medical or therapeutic assistance.

Definitely, it’s of no use to “eat over emotions.”  Just because you feel bad doesn’t mean that a Boston cream pie, or a bag of chips or 5 hamburgers will help you feel any better.  The truth is, eating unhealthy foods, or too much food to help salve difficult feelings, will only make matters worse.

What do YOU do to deal with difficult feelings, instead of overeating or self-abusing with unhealthy foods?  Please tell us – Give-Back the problems.

ACTION PLAN:

— If you feel a negative emotion today, 1: remind yourself “it’s only a feeling.”  2: Distract yourself with something else, instead of “eating over it.” 3.  Move your body: I find some of the best mood-changing therapy is a high-energy dance, fast walk or hike in the great outdoors, or an hour of intense yoga.

—  Write in your journal:  a list of your emotions, happy and sad, blue or sunny, fearful, exuberant, what-have-you.  Now, next to each one, write what you can do about them:  feel them, express to a friend, go to church and confess, ask God for help with them, get creative!

PLEASE GIVE BACK TO YOUR FRIENDS, AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE “GIVE-BACK DIET.”  THEY CAN STARY ANYTIME, AND SO CAN YOU…CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.  We love comments, too, please post yours now.

If you are new to this column, and new to the Give-Back Diet, welcome!  Please take a look at the whole program here.