You've been chopped!

I love The Food Network. Just about any show, and I am hooked. There is something about watching others cook different foods that is, in a way, mesmerizing to me. One of my absolute favorite shows is Chopped. I am a very competitive person, and even though I can’t cook like those on Chopped can, I love watching the show, and choosing my favorites.

Ever since I discovered the wonderful invention known as Netflix, I have been able to feed my need for this awesome show. It doesn’t matter to me if it is the regular version, an episode with professional athletes, or shows with kids or teens, I love it. Funny how food, and even food shows, can offer lessons in life. It just depends on your perspective.

The premise behind Chopped is that they take four chefs who compete in three rounds. Each round, the chefs are given a mystery basket filled with ingredients that must be used in that round. The rounds are appetizer, main course, and dessert. After each round, the judges try the dishes, and determine which one doesn’t quite measure up. That chef is “chopped” (eliminated), while the remaining chefs return for the next round.

In one episode, there was a chef who grew up in a military family where he heard that he was never good enough. Throughout each round, the chef second- guessed and doubted himself, harkening back to the words his father had told. Each round, he was concerned that, once again, his efforts would not be good enough, and that he would validate what he had heard for so many years.

As I watched the episode, I thought about life in general, and mine specifically. Having heard comments most of his life that he was not good enough, the chef almost let that take over his competition. Each time he second-guessed himself, I saw myself, and many others I know. How many times have I changed my plan or ideas, because I felt like I would fail, once again?

After each round, the judges reminded the chef that he was good at what he did. They tried to counteract the negative thoughts he had with positive comments and advice. While I watched, I thought about how that is so much like our everyday life. We are so hard on ourselves, even as we are quick to tell others how good they really are. We all need to be more like the judges, showering praise where it belongs, and less like the chef, kicking ourselves when we are down.

As the chefs completed each round, I watched in anticipation as this particular chef believed each time that his dish would be chopped. I watched as he genuinely seemed surprised at times when he had advanced to the next round. I watched him, and saw myself, and thought of life.

Life gives us a new mystery basket each day, and it is our duty to use each of those ingredients and incorporate them into a palatable dish that make our life delicious. No matter what we have heard in our lives, we have a choice to take our “ingredients” to make the best dish of our lives. We have to choose to listen to what those judges tell us, and believe we are good enough. Because, ultimately, others are not who chop us, but rather ourselves, when we allow the negativity to infiltrate the dishes of our lives.