Words Are Labels For Concepts

 
If you expect to fail, you will.
The word “Failure”
is simply a concept meaning the Opposite of SUCCESS.

Words are the way we label concepts,
and are often very powerful.

No matter what term you use to label Failures,
it doesn't change what they are.
Failure is a label for a Concept meaning the Opposite of SUCCESS.

Many Dieters don’t like the word “failure”,
and look for different labels.
Some choose to call failures "exceptions" or "indulgences" or “cheat days”

The word “failure” is frequently used in the concept of Diets
to describe a “deviation” from the rules of that particular eating plan.
However, one might be better served to
devise rules that include an occasional “deviation”,
which would exclude that “deviation” from being a “failure”.

 Lets look at the definitions of some of these words.

Failure: to be unsuccessful.
Deviation: a noticeable departure from a rule.
Exception: a case in which a rule does not apply.
Indulge: to give free rein to, to yield to the desire of.
Cheat: to violate rules dishonestly.

Failure is the only above-listed word that conveys
the meaning of: "to be unsuccessful".
Deviation simply indicates "a departure from a rule".

However, the words “Exception”, Indulge” and “Cheat”
are not effective "replacement" labels
for the word "Failure" or for the word "Deviation".

The word Cheat means to get something by dishonesty or deception.
Cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation.
I find the word “cheat” an especially inappropriate label to use while dieting
because it indicates an attempt to circumvent both
the need for personal ACCOUNTABILITY
as well as the need to avoid DENIAL.

In a Diet exactly WHO is one “cheating”?  
Of course, the actual answer is that one is “cheating” oneself,
and to trick or deceive oneself is to deliberately put oneself in Denial,
which is a mental method to avoid accepting responsibility for personal behavior.

The terms, "Exceptions" and "Indulgences" and “Cheat”
by definition actually give permission to noticeably depart from the rules.
Giving oneself the ability to excuse oneself from following specific rules at-will,
renders an entire Plan ineffective.

Regarding labels, there’s an old saying that one should "call a spade a spade".
It’s probably important do that.
A rule that doesn't need to be followed, is merely a suggestion.

Perhaps when dealing with the concept of Dieting,
it might be better to replace the label “rule” with the label “guideline”.

Rule: a prescribed guide for conduct or action; a regulation or law controlling conduct.
Guideline: a line by which one is guided; an indication or outline of policy or conduct.

The Bottom Line is:
You can attach many labels to the concept of Dieting.
However, no matter what label you choose to use to describe
the concept of successful BEHAVIOR within any diet or eating plan
Every minute, every day, you can choose to Succeed or to Fail.