Psychological Nutrition is not a concept that most women have ever really contemplated. We don't consider our emotions and reactions within the context of nourishment. Consequently, we unthinkingly consume a diet of negative emotions and thereby allow no room for positive emotions. This is particularly true for those of us who are in middle-age or older and who have that "hyper-responsible" gene. The concepts that we introduce: emotional anorexia, binge emotions, emotional jelly belly, and psychological malnourishment- will ring an intuitive bell. Psychological malnutrition has a profoundly harmful effect: it keeps us in the same emotionally unsatisfying loop; one that is fed by a false sense of obligation; keeps us unsatisfied with our lives, our work, and our relationships; keeps us closing doors to opportunities; and destroys our marriages, our friendships, and our family relationships through martyrdom, insincere niceness, and doing for others with resentment rather than love. All of this ultimately is what keeps the arteries of your soul clogged with "high fat" emotions. Our purpose is to encourage you to become incredibly creative and energized. We want to inspire you to unleash your full potential, and to fulfill your passion and destiny. While that sounds very exciting and positive, the truth is, you won't be able to do it if you're in a psychologically malnourished state. The authors happen to be clinical psychologists; but more importantly, we are women in some stage of middle age who discovered that we are at a turning point in our lives. We're no different than millions of women who want to live a more enriched life. And what you achieve-for yourself and for those with whom you share your bounty-is the ultimate aim. This entire book is geared towards breakinh out of emotional narratives that keep you locked out of achieving your destiny and walking with your head down, hunched over, feeding the emotional jelly-belly. Being helpful Helen, Pity-party Penelope, Sad-faced Sally, Angry Angie, you get it. Anything that has kept you from getting what you want and being your best and most fulfilled self is something that has to go. Throw it out of your emotional closet. It is outdated on you. That was the learning curve when you were young and didn't know any better. Now you are a grown-up woman, and this is an adult philosophy. We want you to be full of elegance, sophistication, and confidence. Don't be deterred by these big statements. Fulfilling the best in ourselves and not bottom-dwelling in survival mode is where we should all be living. Here are some basic concepts: Psychological Nutritional Labels Psychological nutritional labels are a method for you to assess the emotional content of your experiences. Whether you are psychologically nourished or malnourished is contingent upon the "food" you put into your psyche. That food is your feelings-- how you react, how you interpret, how you view the world. The food that you consume; that is, the products, come in these two broad packages: relationships and events. How you interpret and emotionally respond to the relationships and events are the calories they cost. Emotions as Units of Energy: Emotions are units of energy. Negative emotions don't add energy; they break down psychological stamina. Positive emotions augment psychological reserves. High-fat and low-fat emotions: Adverse events and reactions are high-fat, high cost, and low benefit; they deplete the amount of psychological energy you have. Positive developments and reactions are low-fat and high benefit; they add to the psychological energy you have. Psychological energy is a resource that can be depleted or increased: You begin each day with a certain amount of psychological energy. The amount of psychological energy that you have available is dependent on you and how you decide to organize your emotional life.