Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars | & Overconsumption of the Ego 🤎

These oatmeal raisin cookie bars are the soft, chewy, cinnamon-spiced treat you didn’t know you needed. Think classic oatmeal raisin cookies, but in thick, bar form topped with a rich cream cheese frosting that takes them way over the top.

They're perfectly spiced, packed with oats and juicy raisins, and have that nostalgic, home-baked flavor that just hits.

Scroll down for the full recipe!🤎

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Lately, l've been on a journey of underconsumption.

Underconsumption of everything.

I’ve been stopping myself from buying non-essentials, things l don’t really need. Mostly new clothes, beauty products, kitchenware (the hardest for me😭) and any random items I see on TikTok or elsewhere that I think I need. Not only am I saving a lot of money and contributing less to overconsumption, but I’ve learned a lot about myself. I never realized how much I relied on these material things to make myself feel good and "better.” I knew a part of me bought clothes or new items to fill a void or whatever but I didn’t realize to what extent. I've always had this idea that I need to have the best, most unique outfit on or that I can’t rewear the same outfit out because… what will people think???

I did all of this to seem and appear cool to others. Deep down, I just wanted to be accepted. And there’s nothing wrong with wearing clothing that makes you feel good or confident. I do believe it’s a form of self-expression and self-love. But to wear things with the intention of trying to impress others or to appear a certain way is where we go wrong.

But overconsumption doesn’t just show up in shopping hauls, it can creep into even the most well-intentioned parts of our lives — our experiences, our hobbies, our habits and our behaviors.

Something I’ve been doing the past couple of years is tracking all of the books I’ve read with the intention of increasing the total each year. A seemingly harmless goal, right? But what you don’t know is that I was doing this purely for the ego boost. I found myself trying to read as many books as possible just so I can beat my goal from the previous year, or to say “look at how many books I read.” And the thing is I LOVE reading. I really do. But reading became like a chore. It became insufferable. I forced myself to read books I didn’t actually want to read because it was popular amongst others or by reading it, I would appear more “intellectual.”

Writing this seems so silly and a little embarrassing, but that’s literally how our ego works. It convinces us we need to do certain things to garner acceptance, praise or validation from others. I caught myself doing this with my other habits and hobbies that fall under self-development. I truly enjoy doing these but will often get obsessive with it and in a way “over consume” them with the hope that others will see. Not for personal growth or as an act of self-love, but in hopes someone will notice. I so desperately wanted others to inquire about it or to witness all that I’m doing so they can see how disciplined I am, how interesting I am, how cool I am, how *fill in the blank* I am.

This need for others to see how great I am or how many amazing things I’m doing is just my need for external validation. If I was truly happy and content with my life, I wouldn’t need this extra validation from others. It should be enough for me to validate myself.

I always question myself. It’s never good enough unless others say it’s good enough.

But here’s what I’ve learned, and what I want you to remember:

You don’t need others to validate what you’re doing in order to feel secure in it. You don’t need anyone’s approval, validation, or even acceptance. If it feels good to you, then that’s what matters.

If you’re genuinely happy with the way you’re living your life, then let that be enough. You can claim success just by believing in your version of it even if it doesn’t look like someone else’s. Even if you don’t make millions, wear the trendiest name-brand clothes, or have the “perfect” body or appearance. Especially that last one.

It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be perfect all the time, when perfection doesn’t even exist. And often, it’s because you don’t want others to see you as less than. You don’t want to be seen as a failure, or like you’re not good enough, or don’t deserve what you have.

But here’s the truth:

You are not a failure for failing.

You are good enough.

And you deserve every good thing in your life (AND MORE).

So I invite you to do a quick audit of your life:

👉 Is this really what you believe in?

👉 Do you really want to do this?

👉 Is this truly how you want to act or live?

👉 Are you doing it to elicit a certain response from someone?

👉 Are you trying to appear a certain way?

If your actions are coming from a place of love and inner knowing, then know that you’re on the right track.

But when it comes from a place of fear, doubt, desperation, external validation, inferiority or even superiority, you may be losing sight of who you truly are and who you want to become.

Come back home to yourself. You already are enough.

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Ingredients:

Cookie dough

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 2 large eggs, room temp

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 cups quick oats

• 1 cup raisins

Cream cheese frosting

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F, spray a 9x9 pan with baking spray, line with parchment paper, and set aside.

• In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

• In another bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light, fluffy, and smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.

• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.

• Add in vanilla.

• Gradually fold in the flour mixture until almost combined.

• Fold in the oats and raisins.

• Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan.

• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the edges start to look golden.

• Let the bars cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

• To make the frosting, beat unsalted butter and cream cheese until light and creamy.

• Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

• Spread frosting over the bars. Cut bars into squares. Serve and enjoy.

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