Food for Thought: June 16th

Satisfaction Comes from Inside

Why do we continually expect to be satisfied by taking in and possessing things from the outside? Amassing material goods and possessions more often than not stimulates rather than satisfies our appetite. What we do and contribute satisfies us more than what we have and consume.

When we are at peace within ourselves and in contact with our Higher Power, we make fewer demands on the outside world. When we are able to use our abilities in productive work and can give of our emotional and spiritual strength to other people, we feel replete.

Nothing from the outside can bring us happiness if we are at war with ourselves. Chronic dissatisfaction indicates that we have not turned our will and our lives over to God's care, but are still trying to run the show egotistically. Complete surrender opens the way to satisfaction.

I want to surrender to the inner needs of my spirit.

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

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Compulsive appetites do not relate to food only. We have an appetite, it seems, for Stuff too........for staying compulsively busy and out of touch with our feelings.........for over-thinking........for shopping...........for acquiring things to make us 'feel better'.  Those 'things' just get lost or forgotten........it's the thrill of the purchase we seek, not using the actual item. Sigh.

When I am at war with myself, NOTHING makes me happy. Not a truckload of food, not a truckload of stuff, nothing. Chronic dissatisfaction and restlessness indicate that I'm unhappy on the INSIDE, where food and stuff doesn't matter.  Only connection with God will relieve the restlessness that drives me to satisfy an appetite that never GETS sastisfied.

For today, I will surrender everything to God, and get my internal house in order.