Food for Thought: May 28th

Patience

The person who is a compulsive overeater is often someone who wants what he or she wants right now, if not before. When we take inventory, many of us realize that impatience is one of our most troublesome character defects. We are impatient with other people when they do not see things our way, we are impatient with the slowness of weight loss, and we are impatient when we do not seem to be making emotional and spiritual progress.

Cultivating patience helps us tremendously with our program. We grow in patience when we give God control of our lives and decide to live according to His timetable. If we accept what happens to us as the will of a Higher Power, we are better able to treat even the unpleasant situations as learning experiences. We become more patient with ourselves when we view our failures as opportunities to try again.

Fruitful growth is slow. Only weeds grow quickly. Acknowledging powerlessness builds the patience to persevere with what we can do and the faith to leave the results to God.

Trusting in You, may I learn patience.

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

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Impatience is the hallmark of immaturity. Immaturity is what leads me to act like a willful child, insisting on having MY way at ALL times.  This includes eating what I want, when I want it.  Compulsive overeating is a disease of tantrums and childishness.  When I agree to grow UP is when I agree to stick to a food plan and to gain control of myself.
 

Embrace this day, this moment, this life, and with it, make joy. Feel and fully experience the reality of what is, and in the midst of it, make joy.

No matter how much or how little joy you've known in the past, now is your opportunity to make more. Focus on how good it is to simply be, and let pure, unconditional joy flow from your awareness.

Though you have pains and problems and challenges, you also have the good fortune of being able to make joy. With life as it is, from where you are, with what you have, make joy.

There is no need to fight or run away, to feel bitter or to make excuses, to give up, to back down, or to fall into a negative mindset. You have life, and you always have the ability to make joy.

Smile, and warm the world around you. Breathe deeply, gently, and peacefully feel the miracle of your own existence.

Live life as it comes. And with it, every bit of it, make joy.

For today, I will make joy instead of childish chaos.