Food for Thought: July 5th

Ignore the Craving

Old habits die hard, and for a long time we may experience our old craving for that "small," compulsive bite. The craving will not hurt us, and eventually it will pass if we ignore it. If we give in to the craving, it does not go away but becomes stronger. To feed the craving is to pour gasoline on a fire.

When we experience the craving for unnecessary food, we need to find something else to occupy our attention. If possible, we should physically remove ourselves from the tempting situation. If that is impossible, we need to ask our Higher Power for the strength to remain abstinent and to ignore the demands of our over blown appetite. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure. He is always here to support us when we turn and ask for help.

May I listen to You and ignore harmful cravings.


Recovery Meditations: July 5th

OVERCOMING RELAPSE

"Come, whoever you are! Wanderer, worshipper,
Lover of Leaving. Come, this is not a caravan of despair.
It doesn't matter if you've broken your vow a thousand times.
Still, and yet again, come, come."
Rumi


Perhaps the best thing my recovery plan has given me is finding the gift of inspiration almost anywhere. The above quote is such an example. Mevlana Jelalu'ddin Rumi was a Persian poet and theologian who lived from 1207 to 1273. Rumi also seemed to understand recovery quite well, judging from this quote.

I have fallen so many times on my recovery path. Once down, the disease really starts talking to me. "You're already down; you may as well stay down," it will say. Or, "You screwed up your food plan, so you might as well eat this, too." On and on, it never fails.

That's why this quote from Rumi means so much to me. My Higher Power sent it as an invitation to begin again, however many times I need. Even if I slip over and over and over, I can always begin again. My Higher Power and this program of recovery are very forgiving, and I can pick up and move on. I needn't fear failure, because I only fail if I don't get up and forge ahead.

One Day at a Time . . .
I will remember that I may fall, but I can get up again. I can begin anew, and know that I will overcome relapse when I make a fresh start.

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Two subjects today that touch all of us who eat compulsively: Relapse and taking that FIRST compulsive bite.  If we commit to NOT taking that FIRST compulsive bite, then we don't risk our abstinence and face relapse.  It's just that simple, really.  However, most of us find ourselves TAKING that first compulsive bite at some point. And so begins the downward spiral into what I call The Pit.  We consciously jump INTO the pit and then find ourselves panicked and struggling to get out.

We have ONE goal each day, and that goal is NOT taking the first compulsive bite of food.  If we can manage to avoid doing that, we will not break our abstinence and find ourselves struggling.


For today, my goal is to avoid taking the first compulsive bite of food.  And if I find myself struggling, I will remember that relapse happens to the best and strongest amongst us.  I have a program to follow which gives me sanity and serenity, and I will choose to adhere to it, or get back to it if I go astray. 


For today, I am grateful for the marvelous OA program and for my Food Plan which keeps me on track and SANE!