Readings

Today's For Today:

"The process of changing a life-style is more important than reaching a goal or measuring a performance." Theodore Isaac Rubin

"There are many fundamental differences between diet clubs and Overeaters Anonymous. But perhaps the major difference is that in OA preoccupation with diet and weight loss is replaced by the vastly more interesting, satisfying and rewarding process of changing ourselves from the inside.
We begin this process with step one: surrender. For some of us that is impossible at the outset, so we do what we know has worked for others. We go to meetings, we make an effort to express our feelings openly, and we ACT AS IF the power to change, to abstain from compulsive overeating is already ours.
For today: I reject the idea that I can deal with compulsive overeating with diets, scales and weight charts. i do not have to measure my progress in this program."

Today's Voices of Recovery

"Weaving the Fabric of Our Lives." Beyond Our Wildest Dreams p. 175

"Weaving the Fabric of Our Lives," chapter thirteen of Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, has provided me with a fresh image of the OA program and my personal recovery journey. This image reinforces for me the importance of making OA as integral part of my life. By using the Steps to guide my behavior, the Traditions to guide our groups, and the Concepts of Service to guide our service bodies, I can weave a beautiful recovery tapestry and increase my chances of staying in recovery. The image of my Higher Power lovingly guiding the weaving of my recovery tapestry - spiritual, emotional, and physical - adds to my peace and serenity. As long as I use the tools: meetings, telephone, plan of eating, sponsorship, writing, literature, anonymity, and service, my recovery tapestry will not unravel, and I will continue to move forward in my recovery."

Today's In This Moment

"In This Moment, what about me?

Before CoDA, I was selfish, insecure, and took everything personally. It was always, 'Why are they doing this to me? ' 'Why does this happen to me?; ;What is wrong with me?' It was a selfish 'me.'

In recovery, I'm learning what healthy relationships are and, more importantly, how to be in them. What give and take means. Accepting others exactly as they are, even though their thoughts, ideas, and actions are different than mine. I have choices of participating in relationships or accepting that certain relationships are not good for me.

Today's Language of Letting Go

"Vulnerability

Some of us may have made a decision that no one was every going to hurt us again. We may automatically go on feelings freeze mode' when faced with emotional pain. Or, we may terminate a relationship the first time we feel hurt.
Hurt feelings are a part of life, relationships, and recovery.
It is understandable that we don't want to feel any more pain. Many of us have had more than our share. In fact, at some time in our life, we may have been overwhelmed, crushed, or stopped in our tracks by the amount of pain we felt. We may not have had the resources to cope with our pain or take care of ourselves.
That was yesterday. Today, we don't have to be so frightened of pain. It does not have to overwhelm us. We are becoming strong enough to deal with hurt feelings. And we don't have to become martyrs, claiming that hurt feelings and suffering are all there is to life.
WE need only allow ourselves to feel vulnerable enough to feel hurt, when that's appropriate, and take responsibility for our feelings, behaviors, and what we need to do to take care of ourselves. We don't have to analyze or justify our feelings. We need to feel them, and try not to let them control our behavior.
Maybe our pain is showing us we need to set a boundary; maybe it's showing us we're going in a wrong direction; maybe it's triggering a deep healing process.
It's okay to feel hurt; it's okay to cry; it's okay to heal; it's okay to move on to the next feeling, when it's time. our willingness and capacity to feel hurt will eventually be matched by our willingness and capacity to feel joy.
Being in recovery does not mean immunity from pain; it means learning to take loving care of ourselves when we are in pain.

Today, I will not strike out at those who cause me pain. I will feel my emotions and take responsibility for them. I will accept hurt feelings as part of being in relationships. I am willing to surrender to the pain as well as the joy in life."