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Eating Disorders in the Spotlight

An Interview With Eve Eliot

Encounters with people trying to change us (or encounters in which we are trying to change someone else) represent the single largest source of distress in the world I think. Wars begin over how we think other people SHOULD be doing things.

So the solution, when other people are placing pressure upon us to change something about ourselves that we do not feel ready to change, is to continue to do exactly what we have been doing until WE have the impetus to change.

In the meantime, you can respond with the words, "You're absolutely right," whenever they come at you with a need for you to change. If someone says, "It's time you did something about your weight. It's ruining your health," your response could be, "You know – you're absolutely right." When the subject arises again, say again, "Yes – you're absolutely right." After only a few of these exchanges, the person wanting you to change will withdraw from the campaign. You will have presented no opposition – there will be nothing for that person to push against. You will have executed a martial arts tactic perfectly.

Present no opposition. You will be happier doing what YOU want to do until YOU are no longer happy and YOU are ready to change.