Recovery Meditations: May 9th

The readings are SO profound today, that I am posting two of them!

OPEN MINDEDNESS

Let go of your attachment to being right,
and suddenly your mind is more open.
You're able to benefit from the unique viewpoints of others,
without being crippled by your own judgment.

Ralph Marston


Before joining this program much of my life was taken up with defending myself against those who would hurl abuse. I kept everything and everybody at arm's length in a bid to protect my increasingly fragile and sensitive self-assurance. As time marched on, and my disease became parasitical, the walls around me grew higher and isolation drew me inwards.

Ironically, the fortress I was building didn�t protect me from myself and I soon became my own worst enemy. My self-loathing and my unceasing search for perfection led me deeper into a self-induced state of depression. Keeping everybody out and locking myself in became an exhausting exercise.

On entering the 12 Step program I soon realized that the fortress I had so carefully built to protect myself against the outside world was also preventing any kind of light, warmth and love from entering in.

As my journey of recovery progressed, brick by brick the walls came down and afforded me the nourishment I needed to blossom and grow. In learning to accept myself, I found that what others thought of me paled into insignificance. I learned that there was a wealth of experience, strength and hope which would help me along the journey. I learned that I could take what I needed and put down the remainder, without the resentment, anger, fear or pain, which previously would have sent me running for cover.

One Day at a Time . . .
I aim to be willing to keep my mind open, to accept what I need to continue my journey, and to leave the rest.

~ Sue G ~

My Certified Health Coach Website

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 Food for Thought

Self-Pity

"Poor little ol' me." The PLOMS. How often do we succumb to this temptation? Usually it's an excuse for not doing what we know we should do, but do not want to do. Or it's a way to manipulate someone else into doing something for us, which we should be doing ourselves. If we spend our time moaning and groaning about how unfairly life is treating us, we do not have much chance of discovering the plan which our Higher Power has for us, nor are we able to carry out His will.

Trite as it may sound, the cure for self-pity is to think about those who are less fortunate and start counting our blessings. Taking some action, doing some small thing for someone else, perhaps a phone call - these are constructive steps to take us off the "pity pot."

When we begin to feel sorry for ourselves because we must follow a food plan and may not eat spontaneously, let's remember where we came from and what things were like before we found OA.

I don't need self-pity.

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

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Who amongst us can't relate toThe PLOMS? Every day I hear people feeling sorry for themselves that they can't eat whatever they want and maintain a healthy weight.  In reality, 99% of human beings cannot eat whatever they want and stay healthy! Normal weight people calorie-balance without even realizing it, quite often, while others work HARD to stay healthy & fit.  Nuthins for nuthin.  Yet, a compulsive overeater will compare herself to the rest of the world and always come up short. Poor little old me.  Born under an 'unlucky star'.  Filled with excuses and manipulations, so busy feeling self pity that we are unable to get OUT of our own heads for long enough to take ACTION!

Good actions create good thoughts, not the other way around.

I can sit around feeling sorry for myself all day long, even feeling justified in doing so, and STILL it will not change my situation!

Only I can change my situation, with God's help, and that is what I choose to DO, one day at a time, one meal at a time.