Eating Disorder

[MajestyJo]

Friday, December 27, 2013

You are reading from the book Food for Thought

Courage

We pray for the courage to change the things we can. We cannot change the fact that we are compulsive overeaters, but we can change our actions so that we are not destroyed by our disease. Making changes requires the courage to start out on a new, unknown course. Courage does not mean the elimination of fear. Courage means acting in spite of the fact that we are afraid.

It takes courage to learn to affirm one's rights as an individual, especially if the old way was to say yes to all demands and requests, reasonable and unreasonable. It takes courage to face the truth instead of continuing to live with comfortable illusions. Courage is necessary for working the steps of the OA program.

Sometimes courage comes when we are pressed to a wall of failure. There is nothing to do but turn around and step out in a new direction, even though we are afraid. The courage born of desperation can produce remarkable results.

This is what I needed when I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I never ate many sweets, loved my potatoes and gravy, then they wanted to take it all away or allow myself moderation, which isn't easy for an addict. Some is good, more is better, no matter what it is.

When I couldn't have sweets, I started to want and think about them. Don't tell an addict he/she can't have, that old mentality comes back, "Don't tell me 'No' watch me!"

The courage to change, something I can't always do myself, and that is why I need a Higher Power and a willingness to change.