~ BALANCE SHEET ~
"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."
Harry S. Truman
http://www.therecoverygroup.org/meditations/balancesheet.html
Comedores Compulsivos Anonimos ( CCA) é uma Irmandade de indivíduos que, compartilhando experiências e apoio mútuo, estão a recuperar de comer compulsivamente.
Recovery Meditations ~ Wisdom ~ One Day at a Time ~ October 8, 2011
WISDOM
"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep,
too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.”
Kahlil Gibran
Recovery Meditations ~ Loss ~ One Day at a Time ~ August 11, 2011
~ LOSS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"The act of giving something up is
painful. But as we negotiate the curves
and corners of our lives, we must
continually give up parts of ourselves.
The only alternative is not to travel at
all on the journey of life."
M. Scott Peck
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
As I look back over my life, I can
remember many losses. Some came about by
death, some by the circumstances of
life, and others by choices I made. All
of my losses were painful, but only
three were traumatic. Whenever I gave
something up there was a period
afterwards when my life wasn’t the same
as it had been before. The amount of
pain I experienced and the length of its
duration were not contingent upon the
seeming "severity" of the loss. Death
was final, but not the most traumatic
for me. Letting go of something takes
many forms.
Though my most traumatic losses were
those I experienced at the end of a
relationship, there were other losses,
too. I lost my youth and I mourned
that. I lost a part of my life when a
decades-long career gave way to
retirement. I lost my role as mother
when my children grew up and I found
myself with an empty nest. I lost my
identity when the disease I have had for
a lifetime caused me to reach bottom
and, in the process, took the "me who
was" along with it. And I lost another
part of myself when I accepted the
reality of my marriage and let go of the
storybook dreams I once had.
My Twelve Step program has enabled me to
go through a mourning process for each
loss I experienced. I have allowed
myself to grieve and feel the
feelings. And when all this was done,
God’s grace allowed me to heal.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will learn from those things I had to
give up ... and I will continue my
journey in serenity and peace.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"The act of giving something up is
painful. But as we negotiate the curves
and corners of our lives, we must
continually give up parts of ourselves.
The only alternative is not to travel at
all on the journey of life."
M. Scott Peck
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
As I look back over my life, I can
remember many losses. Some came about by
death, some by the circumstances of
life, and others by choices I made. All
of my losses were painful, but only
three were traumatic. Whenever I gave
something up there was a period
afterwards when my life wasn’t the same
as it had been before. The amount of
pain I experienced and the length of its
duration were not contingent upon the
seeming "severity" of the loss. Death
was final, but not the most traumatic
for me. Letting go of something takes
many forms.
Though my most traumatic losses were
those I experienced at the end of a
relationship, there were other losses,
too. I lost my youth and I mourned
that. I lost a part of my life when a
decades-long career gave way to
retirement. I lost my role as mother
when my children grew up and I found
myself with an empty nest. I lost my
identity when the disease I have had for
a lifetime caused me to reach bottom
and, in the process, took the "me who
was" along with it. And I lost another
part of myself when I accepted the
reality of my marriage and let go of the
storybook dreams I once had.
My Twelve Step program has enabled me to
go through a mourning process for each
loss I experienced. I have allowed
myself to grieve and feel the
feelings. And when all this was done,
God’s grace allowed me to heal.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will learn from those things I had to
give up ... and I will continue my
journey in serenity and peace.
Recovery Meditations ~ Happiness ~ One Day at a Time ~ August 8, 2011
~ HAPPINESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
Happiness is never something you get
from other people. The happiness you
feel is in direct proportion to the love
you are able to give.
. . . Oprah Winfrey
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I learned a great lesson while grieving
the loss of my three-year-old son. It
was Christmas time. I had three other
children who were looking forward to a
wonderful day with all the trimmings,
but my heart was despairing. I came to
the realization that I could take the
experience one moment at a time. Some of
those moments would be very sad, but
some of those little periods of time
would be joyful. I found out that
happiness is moments, not a state of
being. We can take those joyful moments
and treasure them until they accumulate
into happiness. We have the choice to
treasure them or to allow them to
disappear in our lack of gratitude and
appreciation.
Every day there is joy that we miss
because we aren't looking for it. When I
look back at the end of the day and add
up the good moments, I often realize
there is so much joy in my life. I learn
to appreciate the little things.
That Christmas is remembered more for
those little moments of joy. The love in
my heart for the other children helped
me to rise above the despair and reach
out to give them a gift of happiness on
that treasured holiday.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I strive to see the good in each moment.
Recovery Meditations ~ Opportunities ~ One Day at a Time ~ July 25, 2011
~ OPPORTUNITIES ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Francis Bacon
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
There is a promise that more will be
revealed as we trudge the road of happy
destiny. We all start by building on the
basics, the foundation that must be in
place. In grade school I learned to read
and write; in high school, how to
research and train myself to acquire
information. In college, I gained
specific advanced information that
allowed me to build upon, and advance my
interests. When I applied the same
principles to the program, I got similar
results, but even more so. When my mind
was opened to spiritual principles, I
received much more than that I was
seeking. My thoughts were lifted to a
much higher plane of ethics.
In searching for an answer to compulsive
overeating, I was exposed to additional
opportunities to grow by doing. Often I
tried them. These exercises sent my
thoughts to other areas, which I again
explored. I am amazed at what I have
learned while looking for something
else.
We can all learn truth if we will open
our hearts and minds. We will then be
without excuse not to exercise every
opportunity to practice it.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
Am I taking advantage of every opportunity to grow? Some opportunities? Any opportunities?
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Francis Bacon
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
There is a promise that more will be
revealed as we trudge the road of happy
destiny. We all start by building on the
basics, the foundation that must be in
place. In grade school I learned to read
and write; in high school, how to
research and train myself to acquire
information. In college, I gained
specific advanced information that
allowed me to build upon, and advance my
interests. When I applied the same
principles to the program, I got similar
results, but even more so. When my mind
was opened to spiritual principles, I
received much more than that I was
seeking. My thoughts were lifted to a
much higher plane of ethics.
In searching for an answer to compulsive
overeating, I was exposed to additional
opportunities to grow by doing. Often I
tried them. These exercises sent my
thoughts to other areas, which I again
explored. I am amazed at what I have
learned while looking for something
else.
We can all learn truth if we will open
our hearts and minds. We will then be
without excuse not to exercise every
opportunity to practice it.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
Am I taking advantage of every opportunity to grow? Some opportunities? Any opportunities?
Recovery Meditations ~ Sanity ~ One Day at a Time ~ July 11, 2011
~ SANITY ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Came to believe ...
That a power greater than ourselves ...
Could restore us to sanity."
Step Two
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
What a powerful statement! There's a
power greater than me. At first glance
it seemed so frightening. As I looked at
my situation, it seemed impossible
... who or what could be greater than I
am? To be "restored" to sanity meant I
must be crazy. After all, that is what
insanity means. My Higher Power happened
to be my sponsor and she was determined
enough to be that power, if only until I
opened the door to another.
One day when my ears were open and my
mouth shut, these words came from
another sufferer: "God can." I thought
to myself, "What? What does 'God can'
mean?" Later -- when my body was clean
and my mind receptive -- those words
came to mean a great deal to me. "God
can" if I let Him. God can take away my
compulsion to overeat. God can remove my
desire for nicotine. God can take away
my desire for booze. Yes, God can.
I no longer worry about what I can't
accomplish because I know that "God
can." So now when my day begins I think
of what I can do right, and I do it for
today. That which I cannot do right -- I
just let God handle that. We make a
pretty good team, God and me.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I let my Higher Power restore me to sanity.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Came to believe ...
That a power greater than ourselves ...
Could restore us to sanity."
Step Two
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
What a powerful statement! There's a
power greater than me. At first glance
it seemed so frightening. As I looked at
my situation, it seemed impossible
... who or what could be greater than I
am? To be "restored" to sanity meant I
must be crazy. After all, that is what
insanity means. My Higher Power happened
to be my sponsor and she was determined
enough to be that power, if only until I
opened the door to another.
One day when my ears were open and my
mouth shut, these words came from
another sufferer: "God can." I thought
to myself, "What? What does 'God can'
mean?" Later -- when my body was clean
and my mind receptive -- those words
came to mean a great deal to me. "God
can" if I let Him. God can take away my
compulsion to overeat. God can remove my
desire for nicotine. God can take away
my desire for booze. Yes, God can.
I no longer worry about what I can't
accomplish because I know that "God
can." So now when my day begins I think
of what I can do right, and I do it for
today. That which I cannot do right -- I
just let God handle that. We make a
pretty good team, God and me.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I let my Higher Power restore me to sanity.
Recovery Meditations ~ Hope ~ One Day at a Time ~ July 4, 2011
~ HOPE ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I wanted desperately to lose weight, be
happy, be spiritually and emotionally
fulfilled, and feel serenity in my
soul. How long must one wait in a single
lifetime to achieve these things? How
long must one function day-to-day at a
fairly high level, only to close the
door at night to a world of emptiness?
How long must one go without hope?
My compulsion for food had come close to
destroying my life. I was in a constant
state of denial that the simple act of
eating food could account for a life run
amok and totally unmanageable. But the
truth of the matter is that it could
... and it did.
I found Twelve Steps that empowered me
to do things I'd never dreamed of
doing. These Twelve Steps enabled me to
see the simple reality that compulsive
eating could destroy my life. They
showed me that life was beautiful and
that my disease could turn out to be my
greatest blessing. The Twelve Steps gave
me something so precious that I am in
awe of their power .... something so
empowering that I had to admit
powerlessness in order to become
powerful. The Twelve Steps gave me the
most beautiful gift I have ever received
... a gift that no one can ever take
away from me ... a gift that I treasure
above all gifts: hope. They gave me the
gift of hope.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will hold onto my hope.
One day at a time ... I will treasure my hope.
One day at a time ... hope perches in my soul.
One day at a time ... hope sings its song.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I wanted desperately to lose weight, be
happy, be spiritually and emotionally
fulfilled, and feel serenity in my
soul. How long must one wait in a single
lifetime to achieve these things? How
long must one function day-to-day at a
fairly high level, only to close the
door at night to a world of emptiness?
How long must one go without hope?
My compulsion for food had come close to
destroying my life. I was in a constant
state of denial that the simple act of
eating food could account for a life run
amok and totally unmanageable. But the
truth of the matter is that it could
... and it did.
I found Twelve Steps that empowered me
to do things I'd never dreamed of
doing. These Twelve Steps enabled me to
see the simple reality that compulsive
eating could destroy my life. They
showed me that life was beautiful and
that my disease could turn out to be my
greatest blessing. The Twelve Steps gave
me something so precious that I am in
awe of their power .... something so
empowering that I had to admit
powerlessness in order to become
powerful. The Twelve Steps gave me the
most beautiful gift I have ever received
... a gift that no one can ever take
away from me ... a gift that I treasure
above all gifts: hope. They gave me the
gift of hope.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will hold onto my hope.
One day at a time ... I will treasure my hope.
One day at a time ... hope perches in my soul.
One day at a time ... hope sings its song.
Recovery Meditations ~ Isolation ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 28, 2011
~ ISOLATION ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Solitude vivifies; isolation kills."
Joseph Roux
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
As an introvert and an agoraphobic I
relate to both sides of this quote. From
an introverted point of view, I need
solitude to regroup, renew, and
refresh. It's part of my process in life
to have quiet time by myself in order to
"get it together." When I'm alone I can
read my OA literature and meditate on
what I'm reading and learning. I'm able
to gain new insight and a renewed sense
of direction in my program.
From an agoraphobic point of view,
isolation kills my ability to stick to
my program. When my social anxiety
cycles and it becomes difficult to get
to meetings or make phone calls, I hide
from the world and from my friends and
other OA members who can help me
maintain my abstinence.
Solitude and Isolation are both active
decisions. Both require some
forethought. If I need solitude in order
to regroup, I have to make time for
it. I have to take a walk, read a book,
putter around my house. On the flip
side, if I'm having a hard time with
Program and my social anxiety is
becoming unmanageable, I can either
isolate and spiral down, or I can choose
to take action and get to a meeting,
make a phone call, or ask my sponsor to
meet me for coffee. I don't have to be
alone in this program.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that I have control over my
actions. Although I need solitude to
heal, I don't have to be alone in my
disease.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Solitude vivifies; isolation kills."
Joseph Roux
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
As an introvert and an agoraphobic I
relate to both sides of this quote. From
an introverted point of view, I need
solitude to regroup, renew, and
refresh. It's part of my process in life
to have quiet time by myself in order to
"get it together." When I'm alone I can
read my OA literature and meditate on
what I'm reading and learning. I'm able
to gain new insight and a renewed sense
of direction in my program.
From an agoraphobic point of view,
isolation kills my ability to stick to
my program. When my social anxiety
cycles and it becomes difficult to get
to meetings or make phone calls, I hide
from the world and from my friends and
other OA members who can help me
maintain my abstinence.
Solitude and Isolation are both active
decisions. Both require some
forethought. If I need solitude in order
to regroup, I have to make time for
it. I have to take a walk, read a book,
putter around my house. On the flip
side, if I'm having a hard time with
Program and my social anxiety is
becoming unmanageable, I can either
isolate and spiral down, or I can choose
to take action and get to a meeting,
make a phone call, or ask my sponsor to
meet me for coffee. I don't have to be
alone in this program.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that I have control over my
actions. Although I need solitude to
heal, I don't have to be alone in my
disease.
Recovery Meditations ~ Sunlight of the Spirit ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 22, 2011
~ SUNLIGHT OF THE SPIRIT ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Trust God and buy broccoli."
Author Unknown
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I heard that quotation in an OA meeting
years ago. "What an odd thing," I
thought. "Why does God care what I buy?"
But as years have gone by and my
abstinence continues one day at a time,
I see the meaning of that phrase and
have deep respect for its principle.
I can trust God 'til the cows come home,
but there is work to be done. A more
familiar quote is: "Trust God but
continue to row toward shore."
Abstinence for me is not only refraining
from compulsive overeating, but
abstaining from what I call my
"alcoholic foods." They block that
beautiful contact between me and the
Sunlight of the Spirit. It is my
responsibility to purchase, prepare,
weigh and measure the best foods for my
peace of mind ~ and to open the channel
to a Power Greater than Myself. Now I
live this way, with thanks to the twelve
steps.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will be grateful that food does not
have power today.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Trust God and buy broccoli."
Author Unknown
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I heard that quotation in an OA meeting
years ago. "What an odd thing," I
thought. "Why does God care what I buy?"
But as years have gone by and my
abstinence continues one day at a time,
I see the meaning of that phrase and
have deep respect for its principle.
I can trust God 'til the cows come home,
but there is work to be done. A more
familiar quote is: "Trust God but
continue to row toward shore."
Abstinence for me is not only refraining
from compulsive overeating, but
abstaining from what I call my
"alcoholic foods." They block that
beautiful contact between me and the
Sunlight of the Spirit. It is my
responsibility to purchase, prepare,
weigh and measure the best foods for my
peace of mind ~ and to open the channel
to a Power Greater than Myself. Now I
live this way, with thanks to the twelve
steps.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will be grateful that food does not
have power today.
Recovery Meditations ~ Peace ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 14, 2011
~ PEACE ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"If you do not find peace in yourself,
you will never find it anywhere else."
Paula A. Bendry
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
No outside reality can bring me
peace. In the past, I tried to find it
in many things, including relationships,
ownership, and my vocation. But none of
these externals brought me real peace. I
had the opportunity of having all of
them stripped away by a crisis in my
life. I had surgery and got an infection
that required a long period of recovery
and resulted in disability. Many of my
relationships ended, my income was
reduced drastically, my capacity for
ownership was decreased greatly, and I
could no longer work. Although it was a
painful lesson, it has been good for my
spiritual condition.
I have been forced to look inside myself
and realize that true peace and joy are
found within. It is not about
externals. Once I realized that, I found
a relationship with my Higher Power that
was deeper and more intimate than
before, and the peace in my life settled
inside of me in even greater measure.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will look inwardly for the peace that I long for.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"If you do not find peace in yourself,
you will never find it anywhere else."
Paula A. Bendry
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
No outside reality can bring me
peace. In the past, I tried to find it
in many things, including relationships,
ownership, and my vocation. But none of
these externals brought me real peace. I
had the opportunity of having all of
them stripped away by a crisis in my
life. I had surgery and got an infection
that required a long period of recovery
and resulted in disability. Many of my
relationships ended, my income was
reduced drastically, my capacity for
ownership was decreased greatly, and I
could no longer work. Although it was a
painful lesson, it has been good for my
spiritual condition.
I have been forced to look inside myself
and realize that true peace and joy are
found within. It is not about
externals. Once I realized that, I found
a relationship with my Higher Power that
was deeper and more intimate than
before, and the peace in my life settled
inside of me in even greater measure.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will look inwardly for the peace that I long for.
Recovery Meditations ~ Expectations ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 13, 2011
~ EXPECTATIONS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"It’s astonishing in this world how
things don’t turn out at all the way you
expect them to."
Agatha Christie
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
My life has been strangled by
expectations ~ expectations I’ve held
for myself; expectations others had of
me; expectations I had of others;
expectations I had for my life; and
expectations I had of the God of my
understanding. Again and again, my
expectations were not met ~ and I was
angry. I felt grossly let down and I was
filled with resentment and
shame. Eventually I became consumed by a
toxic sense of angry and depressing
apathy. If nothing turned out as I
expected, why bother? I’d held so
tightly to my expectations that they
choked the life out of my soul. They
condemned me to an existence of
futility, frustration, selfishness, and
despair. I thought that my expectations
were realistic and "right"; therefore
each variance from my expectations
seemed a violation of the natural order
of things.
Since beginning my Recovery work, I’ve
come to recognize that I virtually
believed that I was God. I thought I
knew what was "best", what was "right",
and what was "supposed" to
happen. Though I am sometimes resistant,
I am learning to let go of my
expectations. I am learning to change my
focus from my finite understanding to
the mysterious and omniscient plan held
safely and sanely in the hands of
God. As I work my steps and learn from
others, I find that I am relieved that
my earlier expectations did not come to
fruition.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I surrender my former expectations and
now expect only one thing: that as I
work my steps, God will bring me
increasing depths of sanity.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"It’s astonishing in this world how
things don’t turn out at all the way you
expect them to."
Agatha Christie
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
My life has been strangled by
expectations ~ expectations I’ve held
for myself; expectations others had of
me; expectations I had of others;
expectations I had for my life; and
expectations I had of the God of my
understanding. Again and again, my
expectations were not met ~ and I was
angry. I felt grossly let down and I was
filled with resentment and
shame. Eventually I became consumed by a
toxic sense of angry and depressing
apathy. If nothing turned out as I
expected, why bother? I’d held so
tightly to my expectations that they
choked the life out of my soul. They
condemned me to an existence of
futility, frustration, selfishness, and
despair. I thought that my expectations
were realistic and "right"; therefore
each variance from my expectations
seemed a violation of the natural order
of things.
Since beginning my Recovery work, I’ve
come to recognize that I virtually
believed that I was God. I thought I
knew what was "best", what was "right",
and what was "supposed" to
happen. Though I am sometimes resistant,
I am learning to let go of my
expectations. I am learning to change my
focus from my finite understanding to
the mysterious and omniscient plan held
safely and sanely in the hands of
God. As I work my steps and learn from
others, I find that I am relieved that
my earlier expectations did not come to
fruition.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I surrender my former expectations and
now expect only one thing: that as I
work my steps, God will bring me
increasing depths of sanity.
Recovery Meditations ~ Honesty ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 8, 2011
~ HONESTY ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Our lives improve only when we take
chances ~ and the first and most
difficult risk we can take is to be
honest with ourselves."
Walter Anderson
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
After the initial shock and realization
that I am a compulsive overeater, it
transpired that in order to recover, I
had to get honest. This was -- and still
is -- a painful process for me, yet it
is an essential step towards my
recovery.
First I had to admit that I wasn't in
control of my life and that recovery
couldn't be achieved unaided. As with
most revelations, this was an
uncomfortable truth to behold. I was
also prompted, through honesty, to stop
blaming everyone else for my
unwillingness to help myself. I had to
find conviction in my actions and not
just emptiness in my words.
I conceded that I am not as perfect as I
would like to think. I make mistakes and
sometimes slip from the path of
recovery, but with honesty comes
acceptance that I am only human.
This disease would deceive me into
thinking that I am a failure, when in
fact it's my actions that have failed
me. Like a magician who performs
illusions for the crowd, this disease
would have me think I have committed
unforgivable sins.
Honesty is the key to my recovery; it
unlocks the chains, which have
imprisoned me for so long. It allows me
to recognize my weaknesses and turn them
into strengths. It turns simple
existence into life ~ and inner
conflicts into outward serenity.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will be honest with myself.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Our lives improve only when we take
chances ~ and the first and most
difficult risk we can take is to be
honest with ourselves."
Walter Anderson
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
After the initial shock and realization
that I am a compulsive overeater, it
transpired that in order to recover, I
had to get honest. This was -- and still
is -- a painful process for me, yet it
is an essential step towards my
recovery.
First I had to admit that I wasn't in
control of my life and that recovery
couldn't be achieved unaided. As with
most revelations, this was an
uncomfortable truth to behold. I was
also prompted, through honesty, to stop
blaming everyone else for my
unwillingness to help myself. I had to
find conviction in my actions and not
just emptiness in my words.
I conceded that I am not as perfect as I
would like to think. I make mistakes and
sometimes slip from the path of
recovery, but with honesty comes
acceptance that I am only human.
This disease would deceive me into
thinking that I am a failure, when in
fact it's my actions that have failed
me. Like a magician who performs
illusions for the crowd, this disease
would have me think I have committed
unforgivable sins.
Honesty is the key to my recovery; it
unlocks the chains, which have
imprisoned me for so long. It allows me
to recognize my weaknesses and turn them
into strengths. It turns simple
existence into life ~ and inner
conflicts into outward serenity.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will be honest with myself.
Recovery Meditations ~ Compassion ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 7, 2011
~ COMPASSION ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"How far you go in life depends on your
being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic
with the striving, and tolerant of the
weak and the strong. Because sometime
in your life you will have been all of
these."
~ George Washington Carver
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
This Twelve Step program works wonders
on many levels. But one of the most
noticible changes I've seen in my life
has been in the area of compassion.
Eating disorders can really mess a
person up. All of us who have the
disease of compulsive eating, in no
matter what form, have been laughed at,
discriminated against, or generally
overlooked by those who don't suffer
from our disease. So, one would think
that compulsive eaters would be more
loving and understanding to their
fellows. For the most part this is
true. But I have seen compulsive eaters
be just as cruel as our more
normal-weight counterparts.
If we can mistreat each other, how can
we ever expect others to treat us
differently? We need to remember where
we were in our disease, for there are
others in that same situation. We need
to see ourselves in the newcomers to our
program, because we run the risk of
returning to where they are now. "There
but for the grace of God go I" takes on
a whole new meaning when we apply that
phrase to our situation.
Sometimes we see varying degrees of
success in this program of recovery. We
must each work our program, and allow
our fellows to work their program. It's
not up to us to take someone else's
inventory concerning the success or
failure of their program. We need only
to keep our own side of the street
clean, and to show compassion to those
of our fellows who are struggling. After
all, compassion was what prompted the
founding of our fellowship in the first
place.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will consciously practice compassion
toward those who still suffer, because I
remember where I came from on this path,
and realize I could return there.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"How far you go in life depends on your
being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic
with the striving, and tolerant of the
weak and the strong. Because sometime
in your life you will have been all of
these."
~ George Washington Carver
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
This Twelve Step program works wonders
on many levels. But one of the most
noticible changes I've seen in my life
has been in the area of compassion.
Eating disorders can really mess a
person up. All of us who have the
disease of compulsive eating, in no
matter what form, have been laughed at,
discriminated against, or generally
overlooked by those who don't suffer
from our disease. So, one would think
that compulsive eaters would be more
loving and understanding to their
fellows. For the most part this is
true. But I have seen compulsive eaters
be just as cruel as our more
normal-weight counterparts.
If we can mistreat each other, how can
we ever expect others to treat us
differently? We need to remember where
we were in our disease, for there are
others in that same situation. We need
to see ourselves in the newcomers to our
program, because we run the risk of
returning to where they are now. "There
but for the grace of God go I" takes on
a whole new meaning when we apply that
phrase to our situation.
Sometimes we see varying degrees of
success in this program of recovery. We
must each work our program, and allow
our fellows to work their program. It's
not up to us to take someone else's
inventory concerning the success or
failure of their program. We need only
to keep our own side of the street
clean, and to show compassion to those
of our fellows who are struggling. After
all, compassion was what prompted the
founding of our fellowship in the first
place.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will consciously practice compassion
toward those who still suffer, because I
remember where I came from on this path,
and realize I could return there.
Recovery Meditations ~ Human Emotion ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 6, 2011
~ HUMAN EMOTION ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Character cannot be developed in ease
and quiet. Only through experiences of
trial and suffering can the soul be
strengthened, vision cleared, ambition
inspired and success achieved."
Helen Keller
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
While traveling through life, I have
made choices that have injured myself
and others. Others have made choices
that have hurt me. Remembering and
writing about my past has proved to
bring up a plethora of negative
emotions. At this moment I feel pain,
remorse, anger, frustration, and am
overwhelmed.
Every human on earth experiences these
same feelings at one time or
another. This is part of what I am here
for. How could I ever comprehend bliss
without experiencing misery? How could I
enjoy inspiration without suffering
depression? How could I appreciate peace
without encountering turmoil? I am
grateful for the problems life gives me
-- partnered with the emotions they
bring -- because without the bad I could
not understand the good. Everything has
its opposite. Things will always
change. Things will always get better,
just like the sun shines after each
storm. The good news is that even though
I may be experiencing negative feelings,
I am learning empathy and I am gaining
wisdom. And how much more will I value
the rays of sunshine that break through
the gray clouds?
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will allow myself the honor of feeling
human emotion. I will ask my Higher
Power to give me comfort in my hardships
and to help me remember why I am here. I
will ask my Higher Power to open my
heart to the lessons I am learning. For
today, with hope and faith, I will look
for the sunbeams shining through the
haze.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Character cannot be developed in ease
and quiet. Only through experiences of
trial and suffering can the soul be
strengthened, vision cleared, ambition
inspired and success achieved."
Helen Keller
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
While traveling through life, I have
made choices that have injured myself
and others. Others have made choices
that have hurt me. Remembering and
writing about my past has proved to
bring up a plethora of negative
emotions. At this moment I feel pain,
remorse, anger, frustration, and am
overwhelmed.
Every human on earth experiences these
same feelings at one time or
another. This is part of what I am here
for. How could I ever comprehend bliss
without experiencing misery? How could I
enjoy inspiration without suffering
depression? How could I appreciate peace
without encountering turmoil? I am
grateful for the problems life gives me
-- partnered with the emotions they
bring -- because without the bad I could
not understand the good. Everything has
its opposite. Things will always
change. Things will always get better,
just like the sun shines after each
storm. The good news is that even though
I may be experiencing negative feelings,
I am learning empathy and I am gaining
wisdom. And how much more will I value
the rays of sunshine that break through
the gray clouds?
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will allow myself the honor of feeling
human emotion. I will ask my Higher
Power to give me comfort in my hardships
and to help me remember why I am here. I
will ask my Higher Power to open my
heart to the lessons I am learning. For
today, with hope and faith, I will look
for the sunbeams shining through the
haze.
Recovery Meditations ~ Step One ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 5, 2011
~ STEP ONE ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Well begun is half done."
Aristotle
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
The first time I took step one I knew
that I was beat. Because I knew that I
was beat, I knew I had to have help to
survive. I sought and accepted that help
in OA. I put the program into action. I
completed the twelve steps and tasted
recovery.
Over the years I have had to renew my
step one, and each time I was convinced
that I was not going to make it without
the help in program. That spurred me on
to complete the 12 steps many
times. Step one is essentially what made
me complete all twelve steps and go on
to a fuller and fuller life in
recovery. Without step one, there really
was no need or motivation for steps two
through twelve.
Recently I realized that step one is
particularly necessary to do step
twelve. I cannot help anyone without my
Higher Power. I cannot control another's
program. I cannot carry the message on
my own, nor can I practice the
principles in all my affairs by
myself. Step one -- my powerlessness and
my inability to manage -- is a great
blessing. It is what spurs me on to turn
to my Higher Power in all tasks great
and small; it is what helps me to gain
more and more ground in recovery.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will admit my powerlessness and my
inability to manage, then I will turn to
God Who will take me through my program
and my life - with His power and His
ability to manage.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Well begun is half done."
Aristotle
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
The first time I took step one I knew
that I was beat. Because I knew that I
was beat, I knew I had to have help to
survive. I sought and accepted that help
in OA. I put the program into action. I
completed the twelve steps and tasted
recovery.
Over the years I have had to renew my
step one, and each time I was convinced
that I was not going to make it without
the help in program. That spurred me on
to complete the 12 steps many
times. Step one is essentially what made
me complete all twelve steps and go on
to a fuller and fuller life in
recovery. Without step one, there really
was no need or motivation for steps two
through twelve.
Recently I realized that step one is
particularly necessary to do step
twelve. I cannot help anyone without my
Higher Power. I cannot control another's
program. I cannot carry the message on
my own, nor can I practice the
principles in all my affairs by
myself. Step one -- my powerlessness and
my inability to manage -- is a great
blessing. It is what spurs me on to turn
to my Higher Power in all tasks great
and small; it is what helps me to gain
more and more ground in recovery.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will admit my powerlessness and my
inability to manage, then I will turn to
God Who will take me through my program
and my life - with His power and His
ability to manage.
Recovery Meditations ~ Fourth Step Secrets ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 4, 2011
~ FOURTH STEP SECRETS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"These are weighty secrets and we must whisper them."
Sarah Chauncey Woolsey (Susan Coolidge)
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
When I came to the Recovery Group, I was
wearing the pain of a lifetime of
well-kept secrets - secrets about a
childhood of poverty and secrets about a
difficult marriage. No one ever saw my
secret pain; I never shared it with
anyone. But all could see the effects of
the food I used as a coping mechanism.
Because of my willingness "to do
whatever it takes," I shared these
secrets with the person who took my 5th
step. I later shared it with my sponsor
and some of them later with a sponsee
during her 5th step. Sharing this pain
the first two times was like the
bursting of a painful abscess, with
poison being released. The poison that
kept me living in resentful, negative
thinking has been gradually replaced
with gratitude for what I had and now
have, and with the ability to experience
joy in my many, many blessings.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will experience gratitude for the
gifts I was given in my 4th and 5th
steps and for the gifts of this program.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"These are weighty secrets and we must whisper them."
Sarah Chauncey Woolsey (Susan Coolidge)
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
When I came to the Recovery Group, I was
wearing the pain of a lifetime of
well-kept secrets - secrets about a
childhood of poverty and secrets about a
difficult marriage. No one ever saw my
secret pain; I never shared it with
anyone. But all could see the effects of
the food I used as a coping mechanism.
Because of my willingness "to do
whatever it takes," I shared these
secrets with the person who took my 5th
step. I later shared it with my sponsor
and some of them later with a sponsee
during her 5th step. Sharing this pain
the first two times was like the
bursting of a painful abscess, with
poison being released. The poison that
kept me living in resentful, negative
thinking has been gradually replaced
with gratitude for what I had and now
have, and with the ability to experience
joy in my many, many blessings.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will experience gratitude for the
gifts I was given in my 4th and 5th
steps and for the gifts of this program.
Recovery Meditations ~ Experience, Strength and Hope ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 3, 2011
~ EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE ~
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Experience is not what happens to you.
It is what you do with what happens to you."
Aldous Huxley
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
Every day is filled with experiences. I
can choose to let them pass me by, or I
can allow myself to learn lessons from
them. It is easy to let the day pass by
quickly and virtually unlived. If I
refuse to stay in the present moment and
choose rather to be filled with
resentment, stuck in the past, filled
with fear, or stuck in the future, life
truly does pass me by. My experience
truly has no value. But if I choose to
learn lessons, stay in the present
moment, and remain connected to my
Higher Power, my day becomes experience,
strength and hope.
Since coming to the program I have
learned that I can share my experience,
strength and hope in so many ways. A
call to or from an OA friend gives me an
opportunity to give and receive
experience, strength and hope. I hear
experience, strength and hope shared
daily as I attend meetings. People share
not only what has happened to them, but
the great lessons that they have allowed
their Higher Power to teach them. This
is such an honor to be part of, an honor
that I would not want to miss. I give
and receive my experience, strength and
hope on the loops where I share -- and
receive shares -- on a daily basis. I am
blessed to be a part of strong loops
with great recovery and sharing. My
sponsors frequently share their
experience, strength and hope with me. I
am privileged to have two sponsors with
quality recovery who are members of The
Recovery Group. I am so grateful for
their input in my life and
recovery. They have been such an
important part of my life lessons. Every
source of experience, strength and hope
in my life gives me more encouragement
to learn new lessons with every
experience I have every day.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will find every opportunity to share
my experience, strength and hope.
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Experience is not what happens to you.
It is what you do with what happens to you."
Aldous Huxley
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
Every day is filled with experiences. I
can choose to let them pass me by, or I
can allow myself to learn lessons from
them. It is easy to let the day pass by
quickly and virtually unlived. If I
refuse to stay in the present moment and
choose rather to be filled with
resentment, stuck in the past, filled
with fear, or stuck in the future, life
truly does pass me by. My experience
truly has no value. But if I choose to
learn lessons, stay in the present
moment, and remain connected to my
Higher Power, my day becomes experience,
strength and hope.
Since coming to the program I have
learned that I can share my experience,
strength and hope in so many ways. A
call to or from an OA friend gives me an
opportunity to give and receive
experience, strength and hope. I hear
experience, strength and hope shared
daily as I attend meetings. People share
not only what has happened to them, but
the great lessons that they have allowed
their Higher Power to teach them. This
is such an honor to be part of, an honor
that I would not want to miss. I give
and receive my experience, strength and
hope on the loops where I share -- and
receive shares -- on a daily basis. I am
blessed to be a part of strong loops
with great recovery and sharing. My
sponsors frequently share their
experience, strength and hope with me. I
am privileged to have two sponsors with
quality recovery who are members of The
Recovery Group. I am so grateful for
their input in my life and
recovery. They have been such an
important part of my life lessons. Every
source of experience, strength and hope
in my life gives me more encouragement
to learn new lessons with every
experience I have every day.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will find every opportunity to share
my experience, strength and hope.
Recovery Meditations ~ Perfection ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 2, 2011
~ PERFECTION ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"My imperfections and failures are as
much a blessing from God as my successes
and my talents, and I lay them both at
His feet."
Mahatma Gandhi
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I don't know why I used to think that if
something wasn't done perfectly, it
wasn't worth doing. I was an all-time
overachiever and to fail at anything was
totally unacceptable. Since I set such
impossibly high standards, it was hardly
surprising that I couldn't love -- or
even like -- myself. I was constantly
pushing to excel at those things I was
good at, and I would beat myself up if I
failed to meet my high expectations. I
was especially critical of my body. I
thought that if I had the perfect body,
my life would be perfect.
When I came into the program I had to
learn to not be so hard on myself. For
the first time I began to realize that I
was human and could still be loveable
and worthy ~ even with all my
imperfections and character defects. I
am lovingly reminded by my sponsor and
my friends in the fellowship to be
gentler with myself. They remind me that
I don't even have to do the program
perfectly. I just need to do the best I
know how for that day; then I can see
progress one day at a time. I don't have
to push myself to be perfect all the
time in order to win approval or gain
love. What a relief that is!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I don't have to be perfect all the
time. I just need to be the best me that
I can be for todayand that's the way God
intended me to be.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"My imperfections and failures are as
much a blessing from God as my successes
and my talents, and I lay them both at
His feet."
Mahatma Gandhi
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
I don't know why I used to think that if
something wasn't done perfectly, it
wasn't worth doing. I was an all-time
overachiever and to fail at anything was
totally unacceptable. Since I set such
impossibly high standards, it was hardly
surprising that I couldn't love -- or
even like -- myself. I was constantly
pushing to excel at those things I was
good at, and I would beat myself up if I
failed to meet my high expectations. I
was especially critical of my body. I
thought that if I had the perfect body,
my life would be perfect.
When I came into the program I had to
learn to not be so hard on myself. For
the first time I began to realize that I
was human and could still be loveable
and worthy ~ even with all my
imperfections and character defects. I
am lovingly reminded by my sponsor and
my friends in the fellowship to be
gentler with myself. They remind me that
I don't even have to do the program
perfectly. I just need to do the best I
know how for that day; then I can see
progress one day at a time. I don't have
to push myself to be perfect all the
time in order to win approval or gain
love. What a relief that is!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I don't have to be perfect all the
time. I just need to be the best me that
I can be for todayand that's the way God
intended me to be.
Recovery Meditations ~ Scars ~ One Day at a Time ~ June 1, 2011
~ SCARS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
"Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power."
Shirley MacLaine
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I’ve lived most of my life filled with bitterness towards people, God and myself. My mind, soul, and body were consumed by hatred, self-pity, pain, hopelessness, and a complete sense of powerlessness. I focused my energy on reviewing my scars. I counted them, checked them, nurtured them, and flaunted them. They were proof of all the wrongs I’d endured. They were my source of energy. They were my identity. They were my badge of sorrow.
As I work my recovery, I am beginning to see everything from a new perspective. Gradually my head is lifted
and my eyes are turned away from my once-beloved scars. The more I allow myself to accept that my powerlessness is not a prison of doom, the more I discover that it is my doorway to faith, surrender, and serenity.
My scars are still here. There is no magic potion to remove them. What is magical, however, is that I see them so differently. I find that I have a choiceto make every day: I can cherish my scars as proof of the pain I have suffered, or I can be thankful for them as evidence of things I have survived. Scar tissue forms and creates a stronger, thicker skin in its place. I can either pick at it and make it bleed, or I can welcome the lessons and endurance it has built into my life.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will choose to see my scars as proof of the difficulties I have survived. I will choose to appreciate them as evidence that God has brought me through suffering and has used all things to strengthen my faith in Him, my hope for tomorrow, and my serenity for today.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
"Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power."
Shirley MacLaine
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I’ve lived most of my life filled with bitterness towards people, God and myself. My mind, soul, and body were consumed by hatred, self-pity, pain, hopelessness, and a complete sense of powerlessness. I focused my energy on reviewing my scars. I counted them, checked them, nurtured them, and flaunted them. They were proof of all the wrongs I’d endured. They were my source of energy. They were my identity. They were my badge of sorrow.
As I work my recovery, I am beginning to see everything from a new perspective. Gradually my head is lifted
and my eyes are turned away from my once-beloved scars. The more I allow myself to accept that my powerlessness is not a prison of doom, the more I discover that it is my doorway to faith, surrender, and serenity.
My scars are still here. There is no magic potion to remove them. What is magical, however, is that I see them so differently. I find that I have a choiceto make every day: I can cherish my scars as proof of the pain I have suffered, or I can be thankful for them as evidence of things I have survived. Scar tissue forms and creates a stronger, thicker skin in its place. I can either pick at it and make it bleed, or I can welcome the lessons and endurance it has built into my life.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will choose to see my scars as proof of the difficulties I have survived. I will choose to appreciate them as evidence that God has brought me through suffering and has used all things to strengthen my faith in Him, my hope for tomorrow, and my serenity for today.
Recovery Meditations ~ Compulsions ~ One Day at a Time ~ May 31, 2011
~ COMPULSIONS ~
Compulsive urges to overeat, gorge or purge are inadequate coping mechanisms.
Compulsion is loss of control and continuation of the behavior despite the consequences.
Gloria Arenson
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Compulsive overeating is not a moral dilemma; it is not a right or wrong; nor is it a black and white event. I learned at a pre-verbal stage that compulsive overeating is a coping mechanism. When I cried to be held, I was fed; when I cried because I was wet, I was fed; when I cried because I was in pain, I was fed; when life was good, I was fed. Is it any wonder I reach for food when life is happening around me?
This program teaches me different ways to cope with life. The Steps teach me how to act on life rather than react to it. I did not choose this disease, but I do choose recovery. Through the help of my Higher Power, the program, and other program members I can recover. I can live in the solution one day at a time and one meal at a time.
One Day at a Time . . .
I will have a program. I choose recovery, health, love and life.
Compulsive urges to overeat, gorge or purge are inadequate coping mechanisms.
Compulsion is loss of control and continuation of the behavior despite the consequences.
Gloria Arenson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Compulsive overeating is not a moral dilemma; it is not a right or wrong; nor is it a black and white event. I learned at a pre-verbal stage that compulsive overeating is a coping mechanism. When I cried to be held, I was fed; when I cried because I was wet, I was fed; when I cried because I was in pain, I was fed; when life was good, I was fed. Is it any wonder I reach for food when life is happening around me?
This program teaches me different ways to cope with life. The Steps teach me how to act on life rather than react to it. I did not choose this disease, but I do choose recovery. Through the help of my Higher Power, the program, and other program members I can recover. I can live in the solution one day at a time and one meal at a time.
One Day at a Time . . .
I will have a program. I choose recovery, health, love and life.
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