Food for Thought: December 10th

 

One Day At A Time

We can only work this program one day at a time. Tomorrow's abstinence will take care of itself if we are abstinent today. It is when we look too far ahead that we become troubled and lose our confidence. Whatever happens, we can cope with it one day at a time.

Worrying about the possibility of being hungry next week destroys today's serenity. Projecting ourselves into future tasks produces unnecessary tension. Wondering how someone may react to something we may say tomorrow causes needless anxiety and robs us of the here and now.

Our Higher Power is with us now, today. By learning to know Him in the present, we grow in faith that He will be with us in the future. He gives us the strength to maintain our abstinence today, and that is the best thing we can possibly do for ourselves. One day at a time, we walk out of darkness into light.

Thank You for this day. 

From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L. ©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation.

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Learning to live in the NOW is quite difficult for addicts............we're either dwelling in the past or worrying about the future.  What overweight woman doesn't project about how 'perfect' life will be when she's at goal?  Then she gets to goal, sees that nothing much has changed, feels restless, and goes back to the old eating habits.  The vicious cycle of yo yo dieting.

OA ends the vicious cycle by teaching us to live an abstinent lifestyle, one day at a time. By working the 12 Steps, we commit to changing ourselves from the INSIDE, so the body is no longer the ONLY thing that matters.  When the body is the only point of focus, we can never feel satisfied.  We age, we develop wrinkles, gray hair, saggy skin..............and we constantly look for ways to 'fix' our bodies.  When we learn to love ourselves on the INSIDE, the body image loses its importance as we focus on our SOUL instead.

My Soul is unflappable.  While my body continues to age & break down, my Soul continues to get stronger & even more beautiful every day.  When my body dies, it's my Soul that will continue to thrive eternally.

For today, I pray to focus on what's TRULY important in my life.