Food for Thought: April 28th

Failure

If the OA program demanded perfection, then we would all be failures. Our goal is progress, not perfection, since none of us will ever be perfect.

It is said that the only time we fail in OA is when we do not try again. When we stumble or slip in our physical abstinence or in our emotional and spiritual life (and the three are always interrelated), the important thing is to pick ourselves up and keep going. We may lose battles here and there, but if we rely on our Higher Power, we will win the war.

None of us is free from temptation. Even when we abstain from compulsive overeating we may indulge in self-pity, envy, or anger. There is always the danger of pride and self-will. Perhaps it is through our failures that we become humble enough to seek and accept God's help. If we could manage by ourselves, we would have no need for a Higher Power. A failure is an opportunity to start again.

From failure, may I humbly learn to walk more closely with You.

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

*****************************************
What learning or growth ever comes from the good times?  It is through the hard times that wisdom and strength is developed, isn't that true?

None of us are perfect, nor should we expect ourselves to be. Out of the demand for perfection comes misery and the feeling of chronic failure. I was a perfectionist for decades..........I'd set myself up for disappointment NO MATTER WHAT, since perfection is an impossible goal to achieve.  Feeling like a failure all the time entitled me to practice my addictive behaviors.  See the connection? :)

For today, I give up my goals of perfection and accept & love myself as I am. Imperfect, but perfectly human.