FOOD FOR THOUGHT- OA/AUGUST 2014

[MajestyJo]

Monday, August 18, 2014

You are reading from the book Food for Thought

Self-Respect

When we were overeating, we did not have much self-respect. Because we felt guilty about the quantity of food we were consuming and the way we looked, we had a very poor self-image. Since we did not respect ourselves, we did not act in a way which evoked respect from others. We put ourselves down and allowed other people to use us.

Abstinence and the OA program produce a change, which is often astonishing. Our self-respect grows in direct proportion to the control we acquire. When we stop overeating and begin to live in accordance with the will of our Higher Power, we can accept and respect ourselves. Those around us respond to us differently as our own attitude improves.

What we realize is that self-respect and inner acceptance are more important than any external approval or disapproval. Instead of living for the admiration of others, we seek each day to follow the will of our Higher Power.

I am grateful for the self-respect OA has given me.

How can I expect others to respect me, if I don't respect myself.

Respect is something that is earned. I needed to earn it back because I didn't have very many principles left. Every time I picked up, no matter what the substance was, I lost a piece of me. It didn't matter what kind of food it was, whether it was pill to calm me because I was too fat or thin, or a little vino to wash it all down with. It was all about escape and coping with life., which I couldn't do without using people, places, and things.

I had a big void inside that needed filled with spiritual things.