Nourish Your Body to Nourish Your Self

There was a time in my life when the idea of feeding myself felt terrifying. So, I stopped eating and unintentionally tried to kill my body. That was in high school.

From age 16 to 30, I lived in the grip of an eating disorder that robbed me of connection to my body, to joy, to life. At 19, I began to claw my way toward healing. It would take ten years of therapy, relentless ego work, and deep self-compassion before I could say, with honesty, that I love myself.

Even now, it’s a practice I return to daily. But today, I can say that 95% of the time, I live in peace with my body. And that is something to celebrate.

Healing Your Relationship with Food

The truth is, our relationship with food is never just about food. It’s often about control and how able we are to relate to our physical form. The way we relate to food is the way we metabolize our lives. For many of us, though, especially those of us healing from disordered eating or body shame, feeding ourselves is an act of radical love.  

The Power of Protein for Mind and Body

One thing I’ve learned again and again is this: to wholly nourish myself, I need to eat protein. Animal protein, specifically, is what my body craves and thrives on. You might have a different experience, and that’s okay. However you get your protein, be it plant-based, animal-based or a combination of the two, it matters that you’re getting enough.

Why protein? Protein stabilizes blood sugar, supports energy levels, helps regulate hormones, and quite literally rebuilds our cells. It helps us feel grounded and nourished. When I’m feeling tired, scattered or emotionally raw, it’s often not just mental symptoms I’m experiencing. It’s physiological. My tank is empty, and my body is waving the white flag.

I remember: FEED YOURSELF.

Feeding Yourself with Love, Not Judgment

Feeding ourselves isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the why and the how. Are you eating because your body asked you to, or because your mind is running a script about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” consume?

Do you eat with love—or with judgment?

When I began to separate the voice of my ego from the voice of my body, everything changed. My ego was loud, punishing and rigid; yet my body was quiet, wise and patient. The more I listened to her, my body that is, the more I healed.

Small Steps Toward Lasting Nourishment

If you’re searching for ways to find nourishment, I want you to know: it’s okay to start small.

• Maybe it means adding one more serving of protein each day.
• Maybe it means sitting down for five minutes with your food, breathing between bites.
• Maybe it means noticing how often you eat in a rush, or with guilt, or not at all.

You’re not doing it wrong. You’re learning how to be in relationship with your body. That’s brave work.

Your Body as a Vessel for Joy and Wholeness

Our physical form is the vessel for our mind and spirit. We can’t live a joyful life if we treat our body like an enemy or ignore its signals entirely. When we feed ourselves with kindness, consistency, and respect, we create the conditions for vitality, clarity, and emotional steadiness.

Feed yourself. Not just because you’re supposed to, but because you deserve to feel well, alive, and whole.

This year, we’re exploring real-world self-care that helps you come home to yourself. Each month, I share simple, grounded ways to reconnect with your body, support your mental health, and create space for what truly matters. If you’d like to walk this path with me, my monthly newsletter offers reflections, practices, and resources to support your growth.

Rachel Gordon, MA, MEd, is a psychotherapist and founder of Humble Warrior Therapy, where she supports individuals in the Denver area with heart-centered, trauma-informed care.