What to do, what to do?

"Eat Healthy"

That is probably what your mother encouraged. And, in your head, you know that you should. But something keeps you reaching for "junk food." You promise yourself you'll make up for the lapse later. Soon you'll get back on track. That self-indulgent little voice has won out in this internal argument.

When the self-protective internal voice wins the argument, that healthy and appealing salad looks good to you. It promises a fresh flavor, savory elements that will cleanse your palate, and a boost of vitamins beneficial to your health. Now it is not a matter of "should," but "want to."

The should vs. want-to arguments in our heads are limitless. They are the stuff of ambivalence, the internal dialogues that often keep us stuck in making decisions. Often, when I feel that way, I say to myself, "Just do it. You'll be ok." That is the voice of adult/smart reason intervening in the argument in my head between my rebellious "little" self and my advising "parent" self.

Yes, we all do have these three internal voices that win our or lose as we work through ambivalence. Sometimes the argument lasts a milli-second, sometimes it lasts for years. Just becoming aware of those inner voices is empowering; listening and consciously intervening is then possible. And it is almost always a relief to move on.

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