Paradox

As I’ve grown older, I’ve found myself more and more willing to sit with contradictory perspectives, and it’s definitely had an impact on my Bright Line Eating journey. Watch this week’s vlog to hear all about it.

Comments

  1. Sam DuBois

    Would you put the Jung quote up in the comments, please and thank you?

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    1. Bright Line Eating

      The paradox is one of our most valued spiritual possessions. Only the paradox comes anywhere near to comprehending the fulness of life. 😉

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  2. Toni

    Thank you Susan! Something to ponder. I like the Jung quote too!

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  3. Sophie Spencer

    Such a beautiful parable. Thank you!

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  4. Fiona

    Carl Gustav Jung was the greatest mind of the 20th century. IMHO. A quote of his that I always felt was interesting is “I would rather be whole than good.” He knew how important it was to integrate our “shadow” self and own our disowned parts. Another paradox in a sense, because when we own and acknowledge the dark of parts of ourselves we don’t have to unconsciously “live them out” in our lives by giving them negative expression. Then we truly have the freedom to be good.

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  5. Cindy

    Love this Vlog and the paradox is so true in my life. It used to show up when overeating did not show up immediately on the scale. Well, got away with that so all must be fine. The paradox also happened in my schooling. I got a degree in Accounting while hating Accounting. But because it came easily to me I did not feel enough pain to change majors.

    Final thought. A mentor who is now deceased was eulogized in this way. Harold always said “This too shall pass.” He said it when things were seemingly going poorly, but he said it when things were seemingly going well.

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    1. Sheila

      Just today I said that to a therapist. Yes, this too shall pass whether it seems ‘good’ or whether it seems ‘bad’! Harold was wise!

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    2. Bright Line Eating

      Definitely makes you think, doesn’t it, Cindy! Thanks for sharing that perspective on “This too shall pass.” <3

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  6. Mary Hall

    Thank you so much for this one. I definitely fell prey to my saboteur when I made some exceptions last year. I had lost 42 pounds over 6 months and gained 20 back over the course of the year a little at a time. Totally reasoning that ia little didn’t matter and would come right off and then I was up 20 pounds! If it was any other program I’d have gained it all back and then some. So thank you for this program and all the vlogs and advice. I totally believe in this way of living and I’ve been back at it for the last month and a half and down 7! Happy. Holidays!

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  7. Constance Joy

    This is one of my all time favorite parables!! It made such an impression when I heard it so many moons ago. The version I heard, was when the old man heard them say “Oh how wonderful “ or “Oh how terrible “ the old man would simply say to all statements “Is it?” Thank you for telling the story!! I am thrilled to hear it again!!!

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  8. Mindy Zuckerbrow

    Please stop rolling your eyes and shaking your head in your introduction as if these valuable vlogs are a nuisance. It takes away from your credibility and sets a tone of annoyance for me.
    Thank you

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    1. kathleen E Dalton

      I agree, I cannot even watch that first few seconds of the eye rolling bit, it is very off -putting but I usually find the blog helpful so I just close my eyes and turn down the sound .

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      1. Mayra

        Mindy and Kathleen, I chuckled at your comments in recognition. I thought the same thing until I said, ‘I wonder what would happen if I just accept it as that’s what Susan does..?’ I go around being ‘put-off’ by other people’s gestures, ways of being, etc. So this is the first time I watch it and make nothing of it. It kind of has its own charm..you know? I wonder what would happen if I practice this with someone else..? and, I wonder how many people are ‘put-off’ by me as well… Yikes.
        And, I just now am wondering what would happen if I looked at myself that way-like, ‘oh, there’s that thing I do’, you know, in a more kind way than I usually do. (like saying things such as, ‘I can’t believe you did it again’ or ‘don’t you ever learn?’ or ‘you’re hopless’…etc. etc. etc.

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        1. Claire

          Amen Mayra! I haven’t heard a vlog, blog, bog whatever from SPT yet…that didn’t have at least one if not many gold nuggets in it! Her mannerisms are essentially, KIND, OPEN, informative, inclusive,intelligent, forgiving, humorous and or emotional or both, spiritual-in the grandest sense of our pitiful attempts at times-to be an improved human being…but most of all-as authentic as I imagine any one of us are in a public setting.
          What more do people wish for from a teacher?
          It amazes me how many comments deal with how she looks, how she speaks, where her eyes, hair, hands, clothes are…yeesh….get a life already! Susan is not any one of us-nor we her. Most of us do not have a clue as to who she is-nor she us…that is not the priority…Figuring out what works for us, and finding it here-there or wherever is a gift…this is all free-and it is all-at most-10-25 minutes of your volunteer time. If it bothers you so much that you have to make a judgemental, unkind comment that has nothing to do with content…then just don’t come here????
          I feel like I am coming to philosophy class, introspection class or ponder that thought class every time I listen…doesn’t mean a darn thing on any other level. I come because it is enriching,enlightening and gives me a sense of connection to our human struggles. Thank-you Susan…I saw a t-shirt the other day that said…”Eye rolling IS my Cardio”….so eye roll on….all of this stuff is so unconscious and an endearing part of checking in…I’d miss it if it went away! 🙂

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          1. Charity M. Harris

            Thank you for speaking up. And, thank you for describing what these vlogs really are about.

          2. Mary White

            I agree 100%. Their reactions are about them not Susan. My reactions, positive or negative, are about me. We see the world as we are through a very personal, idiosyncratic filter. What that filter shows us teaches about ourselves—-if we are paying attention.

        2. P.

          Mayra, I agree that someone’s gestures should not detract from the overall message conveyed.

          For all Mindy and Kathleen know Susan could be a person with a medical condition or it’s simply her style of communicating. She may even be nervous about the process of sharing this Important Topic, but is willing to allow herself to forego her fear in order to Inspire others because her messages are important for our well-being. Personally, I think her gestures are cute and if anyone doesn’t care to see them, they should just choose to not listen or keep their unsupportive comments to themselves! After all, they don’t have to watch/listen to change their lives for the better. They can remain in their unhealthy state of being or do ‘something’ to reach their goal body.

          I liked reading how you’ve made peace with it by closing your eyes and listening. You have enough sense to not want to ‘throw out the baby with the bath water.’ Lol! Kudos for your comment in retort to theirs!

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    2. Linda Smith

      Glad to know others find the eye rolling and head shaking very off putting. It always feels like whatever Susan is about to say is sort of a joke.

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    3. Esme Boone

      Mindy, this was addressed a couple of years ago. People commented on it then too and Susan did a Vlog on it somewhere. She decided she wanted to keep it there–I cant remember why now but it made sense at the time. Does anyone else remember the vlog?

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      1. Debbi Neher

        Esme Boone yes, I remember the vlog but not the title of it. It’s funny because I also used to find those mannerisms of Susan’s off-putting…. until I saw the vlog. As I recall she did respond to the comments people had made about what they disliked about it, and she recognized that people have the right to feel that way. She described how she originally started doing it – to paraphrase, kind of this-is-Wednesday-so-here’s-another-vlog-ya-know. After considering the arguments people made in favour of dropping the mannerism, she concluded that she would keep it because it was authentic to who she is. If I find that vlog I’ll post the link, or maybe someone else can. I just smile at her now when she does it. 🙂

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    5. Maggie Lillo

      This comment takes away from YOUR credibility ad is very off-putting. Try to stop being judgemntal and listen to what is being taught to you. SPT is an incredible gift to us.

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    7. jlee

      This is your opinion and it is fine to have it but it does not annoy most people. I think that it is cute and the beginning to another great vlog that we really enjoy and get a lot of insite from. Remember that you are only one person that feels this way and to ask someone to change the way that they introduce their vlog just to please you shows very little tolerance. Maybe that should be your New Years resolution, to be more tolerant, it coouldn’t hurt. God bless…..

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  9. Riva Danzig

    “The bothness of things….” Yes!

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  10. Trina

    I literally just left a friend’s house where she asked me what kind of protein I can have on BLE. Of course my answer was, “whatever I want as long as it’s in the 4 Bright Lines.” Variety is absolutely part of my plan.
    And I have had successful planned breaks, so I can relate to that too. I’ve told people that the worst thing is when I make a break then I feel fine the next day. Thanks for the reminder that it might be for good in the long run.

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  11. Holly Jean

    Susan! How do you know about GO!! I was surprised to hear the mention. My husband is totally dedicated to this game.

    Reply ·
    1. Susan Peirce Thompson

      Hey Holly.
      When I was a girl my mom went through a phase of dating men in the gaming scene in San Francisco. Over that stretch of years (when I was maybe 7-13 years old) she dated three or four men who were among the best Bridge, Backgammon, and Go players in the world. They made their living at it. They were also super kind and wonderful human beings and taught me calculus, piano, and astrophysics, as well as game theory. I haven’t played in a while, but to this day I can tell you the best dice rolls in rank order to start a backgammon game and other such fun facts. I never practiced Go much, but I acquired a respect of its beauty.
      Xo
      Susan

      Reply ·
  12. Maridadi

    An excellent vlog Susan! An amazing message. Thank you! That’s exactly what happened to me. Proportional weight gain and I carry it well as I have good posture until one day when I was obese. I experience the same sense of saboteurs when I plan exceptions and yes the bandwidth is overwhelming for me before and after. Great reminder underscored by a great story.

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  13. Debbi Neher

    I loved this blog, as I love them all, but had to laugh when you described your lunch – because I had just finished my lunch of 120 g. hummus with olives, steamed carrots and a couple of celery stalks (total 180 g.) following a fabulous Mandarin orange. And it was so yummy, which I remarked on to my dog 🙂 But little did I know I’d be eating a lunch almost identical to yours. Guess you could say I had a little synchronicity with my paradox 🙂

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  14. umasimon Simon

    Thank you; a good blog.

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  15. Patricia Stringfellow

    Loved the contrast of the paradox. Sometimes, we think something is a bad thing which turns out to be a great thing. Such as giving up S and F. It is hard but the benefits are great.

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  16. Kristina

    Thank you so much! This makes so much sense to me & it really hit home for me.Thanks for all you do! Much love & God bless you!!
    Love Kristina

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  17. Cathy Sue Carpenter

    What you bring forward sure covers a lot more about life than just eating!!! See it all a good and look for the lesson in everything. God bless ya!!

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  18. Anna

    Oh, hell yes to all of it. To your point, the strongest BLE programs I see right now are practiced by people who got where they are currently by way of a head-first dive into the dumpster. Utter protracted collapse into addictive eating. Their paths to to eventual salvation went straight through hell. In fact, I would say that they *depended* on their going straight through hell. So was it really hell? And as for being a slave to “successful” planned exceptions, been there and not only done that, but currently doing that, as I grapple today with the addictive obsessions birthed by yesterday’s “successes.”

    I knew a Buddhist teacher for whom English was a second language. The pithiness of his sayings was actually magnified by his limited vocabulary and command of grammar. He used to say, “A good situation is a bad situation. And a bad situation is a good situation.” Which is what you’re saying, Susan. In the end, unable not only to control outcomes, but even so much as to *know* whether an outcome is “good” or “bad,” all we’re ultimately left with is the purity of our overall intention. Shine on.

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  19. Mary

    Love that, “ the bothness of things” 😊

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  20. Cindy Maricle

    I do appreciate how you share pertinent topics in your vlogs! Thanks for keeping it real,. You display such generosity of spirit in your videos💜

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  21. Brenda Callahan

    Thank you. I enjoyed this. It is a very good support before the holidays kick in.. to be careful to not become a shave to our exceptions. Creating a life where we think about managing exceptions is not freedom. Ikm gonna keep that one in my pocket with me!
    I love the wholeness of this program. I appreciate your generosity. ❤️

    Reply ·
  22. Barbara

    Excellent vlog. Anyone who wants to focus on Susan’s hair, clothes, gestures is missing the message. Shame on you.

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  23. Cilla

    Wow!
    This is brilliant!
    I love the simplicity of the BLE program and yet I have slipped and am finding it hard to get back again.
    In a previous vlog Susan you said that Christmas wasn’t all about the food. That was like a knife in my stomach!
    Christmas has always been about the food for me to escape the ‘happy’ family Christmasses.
    Time to have a good chat to my Saboteur!
    Thanks so much for your vlogs. They are always so thought-provoking.
    Happy holidays.

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Happy holidays to you Cilla! All the best to you as you navigate your journey! <3

      Reply ·
  24. Mary White

    What I got from this vlog was a message about the subtleties of eating disorders. I have learned that I am a person who, as a 10+++, has to be extra vigilant. Planned exceptions would send me down the rabbit hole of active addiction. However, there are those for whom that would not be true. That is okay. BLE is big enough for all of us. My program and my food have to be simple and strongly bounded.
    The message I got from this Vlog was that we each must know who we are with food. And honestly face that person. An exception today may be full active addiction tomorrow. Even if it isn’t, I would still lose my sanity and peace with food. Therefore, I choose to not experiment. That is who I am today. Do you know who you are with food?

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  25. Andrea

    Fantastic video! Just all around fantastic

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  26. Mercedes

    I heard this parable some years ago and it became my favorite one. And over the years I could see that it is so true! Good luck, bad luck…who knows? It was good luck to find BLE, but at the same time I feel that after BLE my susceptibility score has raised. So much control unleashes a bigger monster when I cross the lines. But BLE is the only plan that works. Paradox

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  27. Cathy

    Thank you for your insightful Vlog! It has prodded my thinking and helped me look at my eating habits in a different way. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and the ability to do what is necessary for your health and strength. I am grateful for your challenges to us, Susan.

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  28. Alka Mishra Ghorpade

    i have vome to believe that it’s the gratefulness for everything that kind of makes the paradox less paradoxical.

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Interesting! That’s definitely something to consider! <3

      Reply ·
  29. Corinne

    Wow!! That was great. Just what I needed to hear.

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  30. Karen Knill

    Dear Susan,
    Thank you again loved the story about the Chinese man story

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  31. Susan Edwards

    I have heard this parable for years, but our telling is: “Good news, bad news, who knows?” I know it is true, but I am not in love with it because it is just that reminder that we have little or no control of outcomes. My “work” is to “Trust the Process,” and BLE is a brilliant process and as far as I am concerned SPT is a genius and one of the most intelligent persons alive , at least in the USA.

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  32. lauren

    It’s really true about eating off plan. I always thought I’d eat so many great things if I didn’t have to stick to the plan, but on those occasions when I’ve gone off the plan, I usually eat the same half dozen or so junk foods with no variety whatsoever.

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  33. Anne

    Agreed! I learned this already this week the hard way. I am new to BLE-4 months now- I am doing well but not perfect. I am hypoglycemic and BLE has helped me control it better than ever in my entire life. It is a perfect hypoglycemia diet. Best of all my headaches are gone! I hosted a Christmas luncheon on Monday. I of course pre-planned what I would eat. I included a cup of coffee with some Bailey’s in it. I was so good. I only ate what I had written down and only the one cup of spiked coffee as I planned. It seemed I had succeeded the rest of Monday. I felt fine and the scales were happy Tuesday morning but my Blood sugar was not happy. It was angry. I struggled all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday trying to get myself back in control and feeling well. I had one episode after another of low sugar and I was miserable. I am commited now to no exceptions. That spiked coffee was not near good enough to be worth feeling so ill for 3 days.

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Welcome Anne! It sounds like you’re learning to know yourself and your needs! Well done and feel better, friend! <3

      Reply ·
  34. Fiona

    For a lighter take on the paradox theme, I think of a card a friend sent me that said “I’m ready for a blessing that isn’t in disguise!” ;-D

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  35. Fran Otto

    I’m finally listening to this. The paradox idea seems to apply to a struggle I have with eating not my food. I did the second boot camp and have so far kept off the weight but recently started slowly putting it back on I continue to struggle with fatigue and wanting not my food and do the human permission thing but I’m realizing that for me over time the sabaroteur as you mentioned then gives me permission to do it again. I can manage staying on my bright lines when attending family dinners, going out for dinner, or other food events but then later I start thinking about the food that I couldn’t have but wanted, such as ice cream, or potato chips, or popcorn. Then I’ll get these foods and eat them then have no desire for more for a while. But now I’m realizing I can’t go off the lines. That I must stay on track. I live alone, and even if I communicate with my master mind group, I still find myself yielding to the foods desired. I’m looking forward to the Rezoom series to help me get those final pounds off. I have yet to get to my goal of 150-155, I’ve gotten close but over the past year have slowly been creeping up, telling myself its ok as long as I stay in the 60’s but now I am in the 70’s . I do avoid sugar and flour products but have been eating more fat like nuts, crackers, chips. occasionally. I really want to get this goal achieved. I’m retire so do not have the money to do another boot camp. I appreciate your program and truly believe in your program. Thank you so much for your transparency , genuinness, passion and commitment to this huge problem.

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  36. Madeline Caporale

    Another paradox, as I sit with and explore my resistance around beginning Bootcamp-I know that my unhealthy food choices (primarily desserts, popcorn and chocolate) are made to deal with stress (work related or emotional) and in general to keep ‘unpleasant memories or emotions’ at bay. The paradox (fear/resistence) that I am experiencing is that if I work the BLE program it will allow these memories or feelings to come forth to be dealt with. If my fears of this come to pass and I effectively develop/use the skills I have to process them, I will no longer have to self-medicate with food to keep them at bay. I am also reminded that with each ending there is a new beginning. Every change or transformation involves a letting go to be able to move on to the next goal or relationship.

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