The stories we tell ourselves about food

There are certain beliefs we carry without ever questioning them. They feel true because we have repeated them for so long.

“I don’t have time.”
“It’s too much effort.”
“Not on a weekday.”

I used to say the same about pancakes…

If my kids asked for them on a school morning, I would laugh — there’s no time for that (and get a bit annoyed about it too — full on argument before 8AM, anyone?).

Then, after a few sessions of therapy (for reasons that had nothing to do with food of course), I learned something useful:

Question your thoughts. All of them.

So one morning, I did. I measured the flour, cracked the eggs, and had the batter ready in two minutes. Cooking them took no longer than making a round of toast or frying a few eggs.

It turned out I did have time, I just hadn’t looked closely enough. We tell ourselves stories about what’s possible in our kitchens.

That “good” food takes too long.

That nice things are only for weekends.

That effort equals stress.

But what if it doesn’t? Maybe the only thing standing between ordinary and special is a belief we have never questioned.

Next time you catch yourself saying I don’t have time, pause. You might be surprised by what you actually do.