Recovery Meditations: March 19th

~ Commitment ~

Shallow men believe in luck ~
Strong men believe in cause and effect.

Ralph Waldo Emerson


Abstinence did not happen for me until I made a commitment to it. I realized that I would have abstinence until something was a bit too uncomfortable for me to face or feel. Then I would have a slip. So it became a game for me. Was this event or circumstance enough to justify another slip? Sure, why not? That's the nature of the disease. Everything and anything was an excuse to eat.

It wasn't until I made a commitment to abstinence that I was forced to find my solutions in the Twelve Steps and really let go of my addiction. I'm grateful to my Higher Power that I hit the bottom I did. By accepting the truth about myself and my food addiction, I am now free to live in the solution.

One Day at a Time . . .
I will renew my commitment by receiving the gift of abstinence and practicing my program to the best of my ability.

~ Christine S. ~

****************************************************************

I can relate to what's being said here. For me, commitment to God is what keeps me abstinent, whether I 'feel like' it or not.  When I wake up in the morning, I vow to stay abstinent from sugar and stay true to my food plan for the next 24 hours.  Then, I can ignore the junk food I'm faced with because it is not an option for me.

Commitment is different than willpower.  Willpower suggests I have a choice, and if I grit my teeth, I may or may not make it through the temptation. Commitment, on the other hand, lets me know that the cake in the office kitchen is NOT for me; that I have no decision to make about whether or not to eat it.  It's not part of my food plan and if I were to eat it, I'd be breaking my commitment to God and to myself.  I'd be risking my recovery and nothing is worth that!

If I rely on willpower to stay abstinent, I will 'slip' left and right.  If I rely on commitment, I will stay focused and true to my plan of recovery.

SLIP=Sobriety Loses Its Priority

For today, my #1 priority is abstinence.