167. The REAL Meaning of Self-Control (And How Diet Culture Gets It Wrong)

What if self-control wasn’t about restriction—but about rest?

So many Christian women believe that if they could just muster up enough willpower, they’d finally get it right with food. But what if that belief is rooted in a worldly definition of self-control that actually keeps you stuck in a cycle of shame, striving, and spiritual burnout?

In this powerful episode, Brittany breaks down how diet culture has hijacked the concept of self-control and twisted it into something legalistic and rigid. Instead, she unpacks the biblical meaning of self-control and what Galatians 5 really teaches us about living in freedom, not fear. If you’ve ever asked God for more discipline when what you really needed was deeper connection, this one’s for you.

You’ll discover a truth-filled perspective shift that could radically change the way you approach food, your body, and your relationship with Jesus. She walks listeners through the difference between restriction and stewardship, white-knuckling and abiding, and reminds us all that we were never meant to manufacture the fruit of the Spirit on our own.

A few things you can expect to hear in this episode include…

🍑 The one word in Galatians 5:22 you’ve probably read a hundred times—but never realized what it actually means for your food freedom journey

🧠 How diet culture’s version of self-control secretly fuels disordered eating

💬 What one client believed about willpower that you might be secretly believing too

✝️ Why abiding in Christ—not behavior management—is the key to lasting transformation

👟 A practical challenge to start breaking food rules without spiraling into fear

Resources mentioned:

🎧 Episode 76 – What Ballroom Dancing and Vineyards Will Teach You About Body Trust

📝 Join our FREE Facebook community of over 550 women, Food Freedom and Body Image Support for Christian Women → community.brittanybraswellrd.com

💻 Enroll in The Joy-Filled Eater LIVE! at brittanybraswellrd.com/course

📱 Get on the waitlist for The Stronger Collective app

Your Next Steps to Food Freedom & Better Body Image:

> Become a VIP Podcast Insider HERE to access BONUS resources only available to our VIP list.

> Subscribe to The Joy-Filled Eater PRIVATE PODCAST for step-by-step strategies to walk you through my proven Joy-Filled Eater framework for finding lasting freedom from negative body image and disordered eating

Got a question about food freedom, body image, faith, or nutrition? Leave me a SpeakPipe voice note here for a chance to have your question answered on an episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast!

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*Reminder - Podcast content is not meant to be taken as professional nutrition or medical advice or to replace counseling with a licensed therapist. Please consult with your own treatment team.