Written by Pat W.

Honest, Openminded, and Willing

These are three states of mind that support my recovery from food addiction. 

Honesty. If I am not being honest with myself, with another human being and with my higher power I don’t have a chance. I will just be mired in the mental sludge of denial. When I am honest about my compulsive food behaviors I can pinpoint where things went wrong, forgive myself, and move on. In my opinion, this program is based on radical self-forgiveness. How did I get into this mess? What is wrong with me? Why didn’t I join OA fifty pounds ago? I can let all that self-recrimination go and accept and love myself just as I am. I am here now, grateful for my beautiful life, and that is all that counts. My life is moving forward, not backward.

Openminded. I am learning how to follow directions. Go to three meetings a week? OK. Follow a food plan? OK. Have a sponsor and be a sponsor?OK. Provide service to the fellowship? OK. Work the 12 Steps to the best of your ability? OK. When I have an open mind about the suggestions that OA members in recovery offer me, I start to develop and work an action plan. Doing the next right thing makes me remarkably happy with myself and the world.

Willing. I am willing to change. I wasn’t willing to put down the food when I tried previous diet schemes. I wanted to lose weight while I kept on eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, in any amount and for whatever reason. I was insane about food, but I didn’t know it. I know it now. I am addicted to food. If I do not have strong abstinence, I will use food as a panacea for all things good and bad.  In recovery, I face life head on in all its ambiguity, turmoil, and glory.  I am willing to feel my feelings, good and bad, knowing they will dissipate in time and I will return to serenity, my new baseline.