Where's My Eggnog Latte?
Nov 20, 2021
Missing your eggnog latte this year? Case-in-point, when you argue with reality, you always lose....read on to learn how to stop (unless you want to continue to lose brain energy on #wtf2021eggnoglatteedition).
No eggnog lattes this year at Starbucks. It's a thing. People are mad (well, at least some people). Whatever the reason, it's not happening this year.
I've come across people who are really upset, posting on Facebook, sending letters to Starbucks HQ, yelling at baristas. And it's normal to have some emotions here: disappointment, sadness, etc. But, if you are finding yourself getting upset over and over that none of the Starbucks have eggnog this year, you are arguing with reality. And you are welcome to continue, but unfortunately, you will keep losing.
Having an emotion is normal. Having it again and again, and getting worked up about it? What is that creating for you? Is it going to convince the Starbucks corporation to magically start telling staff to run over to the grocery stores and buy eggnog? Can the barista taking your order magically produce some eggnog, just for you, out of a secret recipe? What's really going on here?
If you step back, what is said eggnog latte meaning in your life? Does it represent the holiday season for you? Do you make it mean that if you don't get this particular beverage that you can't enjoy the winter? Do you take it as a personal affront against your taste in beverages? What is really going on?
If you are like me, you might look to a tradition like an eggnog lattes as something that generates a feeling, like coziness, pleasure, indulgence. And your primitive brain may be feeding you a story that without this particular object of your affection, you can't have that feeling. But really? Can you really not enjoy winter because of this? Can you really not feel pleasure because a corporation changed their drinks line-up? Are you putting an inordinate amount of responsibility onto this external thing to give you a hit of dopamine during cold winter months?
Pause for a second, and just consider...what emotion am I seeking and therefore missing this year due to the menu changes? What am I thinking about the mythical eggnog latte that makes me feel that emotion? How else might I create that emotion with my thoughts? As in, what else can you choose to think that leads to feelings of pleasure, comfort, coziness, etc. Bonus points if this is not sugar-related!
I know that this may seem a trivial thing, but frankly, we get upset about truly trivial things all of the time as humans. What little things are you getting upset about right now? How can you step back for a second, and look at what is really going on? Learning to look at these little insults, and see how we are making them a BIG DEAL, gives us insights on how to stop doing this, stop generating negative emotions needlessly (there's plenty of things that happen to us that will cause warranted negative emotions after all), and to stop arguing with reality.
Because again, as Byron Katie says: "When you argue with reality, you lose— but only 100% of the time."
PS, Full disclosure, I am not actually someone who enjoys eggnog lattes, but I absolutely have felt ridiculously hooked when other things have been taken off menus, so the lesson here is universal in my mind.
Hi There!
I'm Megan. I'm a Physician and a Life Coach and a Mom. I created this blog to help other Physicians and Physician-Moms learn more about why they feel exhausted, burned-out and overwhelmed, and how to start to make changes. I hope that you enjoy what you read, and that it helps you along your journey. And hey, if you want to talk about coaching with me, I'm here for that too! I offer a free 1:1 call to see if we are a good fit. Click the button below to register today.
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