Food for Thought: April 10th

Increasing Joy

Before we found OA, many of us felt depressed much of the time. The combination of too much food and too little inspiration was lethal. We existed and we did what we had to do, but there was a lack of deep joy in our lives.

When we get the poisons out of our systems, which have been deposited by refined starches and sugars and by overeating in general, we feel one hundred percent better. As we get rid of the poisons in our minds and hearts, our joy increases.

Gradually we are relieved of the guilt of overeating. We are also relieved of envy, anger, and fear - all of the negative emotions, which have poisoned our hearts.

Deep joy can only come from the deepest part of ourselves. That is the place where we find and come to know our Higher Power.

Thank You, God, for increasing joy.

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

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Overeating doesn't just poison my body, it poisons my mind as well. Toxic thinking is just as harmful to me as toxic eating! When I am overeating, I am fearful and guilty and miserable in general.  When I am abstinent, I am grateful and peaceful and joyful.

I will not allow myself to feel joy when I am practicing addictive behavior. I shut down and tune out.  When I live with Recovery, I reach out and I come alive instead.

For today, I pray to stay abstinent, joyous and free.  I pray that in doing so, I can be relieved of envy, anger and fear, all of the negative emotions, which threaten to poison my heart.