Why the "Perfect Diet" Can Break Your Heart

Hello! This is Yumi Yone!
Today, I want to talk about why it's important to think about
"what suits me right now"
rather than aiming for an "ideal."

The other day, I found a small phrase on an omikuji (fortune slip) that
really resonated with me.

The phrase was,
"If you force too much in, the bag will tear."

…Doesn't that phrase just gently sink into your heart?
When I saw it, I thought, "Ah, that's about me."

With work, housework, relationships… with so much to do,
"I have to do this too"
"I have to try harder"
—I often end up stuffing more into my capacity than I can handle.

But if you don't look at how much room you actually have right now,
and force too many things in—one day,
with a snap, your heart or body will break.
Just like a bag that tears from being overstuffed.

I realized this is the same when it comes to eating.

Thinking "I have to eat properly" too much,
trying to aim for perfect nutritional balance,

worrying about menus,
spending time shopping,
and finding cooking and cleaning up to be a burden…
In the end, you think "I can't do this anymore!" and
settle for a convenience store bento, or conversely, give up on eating altogether.
It's exactly the state where your heart's bag is about to tear.

But in reality, you don't have to push yourself that hard.
If you choose the"best you can do within your current range", that is enough.

On days when you're tired,
a bowl of miso soup with lots of ingredients, some bottled salmon, and rice is fine.
Vegetables can be frozen,
and you can balance things out by making good use of pre-cut vegetables or salad chicken from the convenience store.

Days to work hard, and days to take it easy.
As long as you have that balance, you'll be fine.

Nurturing peace of mind means
not pushing your physical strength or feelings beyond their limits.

To do that,
it's important to"properly assess your own state."

And that can also be seen through "eating."

When you have days where you don't have an appetite,
when you only crave sweets,
or conversely, when you're extremely hungry and overeating…
These changes aresigns from your heart and body.

Instead of blaming yourself, saying "Why do I eat so much?"
try asking yourself,
"Maybe my heart is tired?"

Disordered eating habits are,in fact, a barometer for your heart.Instead of blaming yourself for it,
if you turn it into an awareness,
I feel like your heart will naturally settle down.

I also had a time in the past when I struggled with eating.

I was worried about my skin and body shape,
so I worried about calories and reduced my rice intake,
or just got by on salad…

But then I'd get hungry at night and eat snacks,
and I would blame myself, saying "I have a weak will."

Looking back, I realize I was pushing myself beyond my capacity.
I was trying to force the ideal of "having a proper diet"
while completely ignoring my own state of being.

What I realized from that experience is
the importance of "taking a good look at how I am doing right now."

"This much is fine for today,"
"Maybe eating this will give me a little boost."
In ways like that, I started to become conscious of choosing meals that are kind to myself.

Taking care of yourself doesn't mean always having to be perfect.
I believe it means "acknowledging the best you can do right now."

If there is anyone out there right now who is pushing themselves too hard and feeling exhausted,
I want you to remember the saying,
"If you force too much into a bag, it will tear."

Working hard itself isn't a bad thing.
But it is even more important to gauge "how much capacity you have right now."

If you have little capacity, you can just do what you can with what you have.
If you nurture your heart little by little, it will surely grow larger someday.

In that process, food will become your ally.

Even when you lack energy or feel anxious,
eating can help you feel relieved or allow you to pause.

That is precisely why meals are also a time for a dialogue with yourself without pressure.

Why not start by listening to the voice of your heart and body?

Right now, I am offering a gift:
"A gut health diagnosis tailored to you
to revitalize your busy heart and body."
By knowing your current state,
you might find hints for a diet that doesn't strain you.

Why not learn your own pace and start gut health care that is just right for you right now?