Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Self-Sabotage: Return To the Vomit?
“I’m my own
worst enemy.”
Ever utter
those words?
Chances are,
at different points in our lives, we will do our own unique versions of
self-destruction. We self-sabotage. It’s not necessarily because we want to
ruin our lives.
Perhaps,
rather, it’s because we want to control
them.
Wonderful,
here we go!
And, for
those of us in recovery: alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, shopping, anything
under the sun, really, it seems to be all in a day’s work. What’s the famous slogan?
“Relapse is a part of the recovery process.”
Oh, good, so
let’s do some recovering then.
Scripture
illustrates the relapse/self-sabotage principle long before any 12 Step
Programs or support groups were formed.
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
Proverbs 26:11
Lovely.
My husband
and I don’t have dogs; we have cats. And so, I understand this Proverb in real life
feline terms. With our cats, there are hairballs, usually coughed up at two in
the morning. I should know because that’s usually the time I’m awakened to that
one of a kind retching sound. Either that, or I step in it when I get up hours
later. Both are fun options, let me tell you.
Nevertheless,
on more occasions than I care to experience, our cats, if left to their own
devices, will eventually attempt to consume
their just regurgitated hairballs.
Pleasant.
It sounds
gross, barbaric and pointless to us, doesn’t it? After all, this hairball,
supposedly, was giving the cats enough trouble for them to vomit it up in the first place, right? Why go back to
square one?
Is anyone
recognizing themselves yet? I know I am.
To start,
there’s an independent streak, usually very contrary to most 12 Step Principles
like…
“We admitted we
were powerless over a substance - that our lives had become unmanageable.”
“We admitted to God, to
ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
“We humbly asked Him to remove
our shortcomings.”
Pretty
straightforward and thorough, isn’t it?
But is it fun and gratifying to our will and cravings?
Eh, not so much. We tend to insist on a declaration of our own little
independence, don’t we?
That often involves such great decision makers like pride, isolation and excess.
So, let’s see what might happen with these approaches.
First, there’s pride.
“Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall.”
Proverbs 16:18
We’re not the first to dawn upon that cute notion. In fact, it goes back a
little ways, beyond a decade or even a century. Try a real-l-l-l-y long time
ago, with one particular little fella.
“And he said unto them, ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall
from heaven.’”
Luke 10:18
“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the
dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!”
Isaiah 14:12
Oh, good, this will go great.
Indeed, Humpty Dumpty had a great
fall. But it wasn’t without cause. You see, Satan thought he could do things
all by himself. He could be just like God. No problem, right?
But there was a problem, a big
old independent pride of a problem. And Satan, therefore, got puffed up, greedy
and grabby.
"But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I
will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of
assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'”
Isaiah 14:13-14
Uh-Oh.
And then there followed God’s “nevertheless” response to that attitude…
"Nevertheless you will be thrust
down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.”
Isaiah 14:15
Yeah, that’s not good…
"Those who see you will gaze at
you, They will ponder over you, saying, 'Is this the man who made the earth
tremble, Who shook kingdoms?’”
Isaiah 14:16
So much for big, bad and independent, huh?
It’s not about calling ourselves Satan. It is, however,
about recognizing the slippery slope of willfulness…stubbornness…pride…independent
arrogance… and a great big fall.
We’re all capable of that. How many “rock bottoms,”
really, have you and I already lived through? Do we really want to take another swan dive?
But, I guess, a-diving we often go, employing good ‘ole
isolation to the stubborn mess.
Whether we want to indulge our cravings or are ashamed of
that indulgence (or both), many of us decide we need to drop off the planet and
self-medicate/party. We stop talking to our loved ones. We can stop going to
meetings, calling our sponsors and going to church, school and work.
Scripture, as usual, provides its perspective on this
tactic:
“A man who isolates himself seeks his
own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.”
He rages against all wise judgment.”
Proverbs 18:1
What’s the opposite of wise? Foolish.
But, c’mon, we reason such things as…
“This is fun.”
“It’s only one
time.”
“I have this
under control.”
“I’ll get back on the horse Monday morning.”
“Besides, no one
understands my pain or what I’m going through.”
Said any of these gems? I have. Yet, they never work;
they never fix anything. And, eventually, we’re wallowing in situations that
went way further than we ever expected they would. That’s what sin does.
Yay.
But it’s not
about condemnation, because, after all…
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1
Yet there’s
also a reality check side to the condemnation issue. And again, it deals with
our flawed selves. Check out this little ditty:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil.”
John 3:19
It’s not
flattering. I know, at different times, I’ve been in a critical moment of
decision: should I indulge in my own way here and now or choose the healthier
approach of going to a support group meeting, calling someone, going to church
or, heck, even praying? Unfortunately, I’ve occasionally chosen the first
option, even when I “knew better,” even when I glimpsed the consequences of
that less than healthy choice.
Why did I do
this? Well, Paul says it much better than I EVER could:
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to
do, that I do not practice: but what I hate, that I do.”
Romans 7:15
Thanks,
Paul.
And that’s
where the healing of supportive people comes in. After all, if God stated being
alone wasn’t good for us, why would that change?
“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an
help meet for him.’”
Genesis 2:18
Now, I know
this scripture is trotted out when it comes to finding a spouse and that’s a
part of it.
But it also
speaks to the connection- the communion- with supportive loving people in our
lives. They can be in recovery groups and churches; they can be sponsors. But
the common denominator is that they have to be individuals outside of our “me, myself and I” tendencies.
God didn’t
create hermits. We do that to
ourselves. And there’s no blessing to that decision, only more delusion,
deception and destruction. We cannot go it alone.
And let’s
not forget, we still have the pursuit of our cravings. We are often captivated
by excess. We want to be with our chosen binges and diseases, don’t we? Again,
we’re cautioned not to do that…
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge
themselves on meat.”
Proverbs 23:20
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on
you suddenly like a trap.
Luke 21:34
But those
cautions aren’t so much fun. They aren’t attractive, compelling, glimmering
with our God substitute of an answer to pain, stress and life. Indulgence is
more of a party than self-control.
And, because
God is a good God, yes, He has given us the capacity for that attribute.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
We just need
to put it into practice.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and
ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16
And c’mon, we view the word “practice” as
work, not fun, right?
Nevertheless,
it is possible. We just need to remember,
it’s not about our strength or
brilliant ideas. We know what some of those things can do. Self-control is tied
to God.
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you
can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Whether it is
stumbling blocks of pride, isolation or excess, God still wants to be in our
lives and recovery programs; He wants to instruct and guide us.
“I will instruct you
and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the
way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand, and whenever turn to the
left.’”
Isaiah 30:21
Often, God
is not even saying something super spiritual to us. It could be “Go to a
meeting,” “Call your sponsor,” “Don’t shop on the internet,” or “Put that drink
down.”
In that
moment, it often comes down to a question: do we trust God?
“Trust in the Lord
with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
That
question is not easy to answer. Neither is recovery. Let’s get real- often, it
feels like a war.
“But I see a different law in the
members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a
prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am!
Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the
law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”
Romans 7:23-25
But we’re
not alone in that war. God is there.
And He’s making a way…
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he
does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is
common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also,
so that you will be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
One day at a
time, in the moment…
And, even
it’s a “relapse kind of moment,” God is still there, able to handle it:
“Behold, I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27
He doesn’t
want to punish us or beat us up.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the
Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
We need to
stop doing it, then, to ourselves. God wants us to see there’s another way from
the options we’re unsuccessfully pursuing. He’s faithful to meet us right where
we are.
And He’s
equipped us with practical recovery tools. Support groups, sponsors, recovery
meetings and healthy coping strategies are just a few of those options. They
can be secular in nature sometimes, but once God is at the center, they become
Godly.
You and I don’t have to return to the vomit. God has better for us.
Wherever we are on the relapse/recovery grid, we need to remember God
desires to love us, meet us and help us. Let’s accept the grace, start again if
we need to and leave the vomit where it belongs: in the past.
Copyright © 2015 by
Sheryle Cruse
A Bad Fall...
When I was about twelve, I had a bad fall incident.
It was a Minnesota winter- one of THOSE winters! I was running late for the
school bus, so late that I built up enough speed to not only fall on the ice, but SLIDE partly under the bus as well! Beautiful! And
oh, so safe and dignifying! Because there’s nothing preteen girls love more
than an audience witnessing your moment of impact with nature’s ice rink!
Anyhoo, my point is this: embarrassing falls happen. They can be the literal fall of, for instance, missing a step or curb or slipping on a patch of ice. Or they can be spiritual or emotional falls, in which something horrible happened that devastated you, like a severed relationship, a communication mishap, or feeling isolated and estranged because of circumstances that were out of your control.
And then, there’s the fall of “relapse.” Nothing can make a person feel more like a worthless failure than relapse. You feel defeated, hopeless, weak, a failure. You somehow reason that you’re the one lone person in the world who failed and can’t sustain recovery. “Everyone else” has got it down; if you were a “better person,” you scream to yourself, you could get it too.
But we all fall:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 3:23
The fact is, yes, it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo embarrassing when I fell at 12…and 13… and 19… and 23… and 27…and, well, you get the picture… I’ve slid under a lot of life buses in my time, had sooooooo many failures, with plenty of onlookers watching.
But life went on; the moment- hellish, embarrassing , defeating- PASSED!
Again, 2 Corinthians 4:18:
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.”
I fell at twelve, was embarrassed, struggled to get up, got up, got on the bus, etc.
And with each fall, each year, whether I felt it was happening or not, I still got up because God was helping me.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
God’s helping you too. So, what’s your latest fall? Are you struggling to get up?
Still feel pathetic? Well, how ‘bout this?
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again...”
Proverbs 24:16
God’s not mad at you; He’s helping you to get up from your fallen place.
Anyhoo, my point is this: embarrassing falls happen. They can be the literal fall of, for instance, missing a step or curb or slipping on a patch of ice. Or they can be spiritual or emotional falls, in which something horrible happened that devastated you, like a severed relationship, a communication mishap, or feeling isolated and estranged because of circumstances that were out of your control.
And then, there’s the fall of “relapse.” Nothing can make a person feel more like a worthless failure than relapse. You feel defeated, hopeless, weak, a failure. You somehow reason that you’re the one lone person in the world who failed and can’t sustain recovery. “Everyone else” has got it down; if you were a “better person,” you scream to yourself, you could get it too.
But we all fall:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 3:23
The fact is, yes, it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo embarrassing when I fell at 12…and 13… and 19… and 23… and 27…and, well, you get the picture… I’ve slid under a lot of life buses in my time, had sooooooo many failures, with plenty of onlookers watching.
But life went on; the moment- hellish, embarrassing , defeating- PASSED!
Again, 2 Corinthians 4:18:
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.”
I fell at twelve, was embarrassed, struggled to get up, got up, got on the bus, etc.
And with each fall, each year, whether I felt it was happening or not, I still got up because God was helping me.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
God’s helping you too. So, what’s your latest fall? Are you struggling to get up?
Still feel pathetic? Well, how ‘bout this?
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again...”
Proverbs 24:16
God’s not mad at you; He’s helping you to get up from your fallen place.
Don’t stay where you fell; that is not your destiny! Your life, complete with an incredible future, is your destiny!
“…Behold,
I make all things new...”
Revelation 21:5
So, we may be at our usual rut state
of mind kind of living. Some of us out there may be struggling through
repetitious, frustrating days. Some of us may be trying to recover from a
personal setback, a slip from sobriety, or a major life change which completely
caught us off guard. What do we do when a slip or a fall has disrupted our
lives, especially when some of us feel far from spring chickens? What’s the
antidote to the fall? Answer: God’s new.
Think about it. No matter how old we
get, there’s a large part of us which wants to feel new, shiny, like a possibility-
filled being. Yet, so much of the time in life, it seems our lives and
realities don’t reflect that shiny newness. Is new too simple, too unrealistic
to hope for after you’ve been battered by life a bit? No. I don’t think so.
However, I think there’s a trick to it a perspective. Perhaps we could stop
seeing new as a one time, instant, perfect event and start seeing it as a
constant process from a relevant God, Who subtly changes and yes, transforms
things. Nothing in life just happens- or even happens overnight. Life takes
time. Even concerning a seemingly instant event took some to get that way. And
regardless of how things seem, God is still in control.
So, could God be up to something new?
God has plan for us, according to Jeremiah
29:11:
“For
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace
and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Did you catch that? God knows the
thoughts and plans for us; we don’t. So, why should we ever assume it’s “over”
for us, in any way? You and I are both still here, right? God doesn’t write us
off; why should we?
There is a new future, even when we
don’t feel it, see it or know it for our lives. It’s not hopeless. It’s never
hopeless.
God is doing a new thing for you.
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall
ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19
But don’t get caught up on the old
things of your life.
Where is your focus: the past, the
present or the future? They all play a role, but don’t negate the rest of your
life, just because of something from the past. God is a God of restoration,
healing and new beginnings…
“He
sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Psalms 107:20
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I
will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an
Outcast...”
Jeremiah 30:17
“I will restore to you the years
that the locust hath eaten, the canker worm and the caterpillar and the palmer
worm…"
Joel 2:25
And that includes falls. New is still
the promise, still extended to you.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
A bad fall never disqualifies you. Allow God to be in it. Remember:
“For a just man falleth seven
times, and riseth up again...”
Proverbs 24:16
Proverbs 24:16
Copyright © 2015 by Sheryle Cruse
Monday, June 29, 2015
Harmful Body Image Perceptions
Featured in
the June 29th Christians In Recovery, Cruse explores harmful body
image via pop culture’s wire hanger reference from the book and film, “Mommie
Dearest.”
Pondering Denial
Featured in
the July/August, Issue 17, of Recovery Wire Magazine, Sheryle Cruse discusses
the challenge denial plays in disorder and recovery.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Am I Pretty?
“Am I pretty?”
Recently, I watched the 1940 adaptation of “Our Town” by
Thornton Wilder. It follows the lives of its Grover’s Corner citizens.
And that includes a young girl, Emily. There was a
particular conversation between Emily and her mother which caught my attention;
it’s one, to a certain degree, which is echoed between many mothers and
daughters now. It’s about being pretty.
Emily asks her mother, “Am I pretty enough to get people
interested in me?”
My ears perked right up, along with many mixed emotions
about the question. Having experienced struggles with body and self-image, as
well as eating disorders, the “pretty” question is far from pretty.
Years later, I’m still befuddled by the importance of it. Is
it a real human desire for females or is it learned?
Scripture tells us appearance’s importance is a part of life
here:
“ …‘Look not on his countenance, or on the
height of his stature… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on
the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.’”
1 Samuel 16:7
So, God desires us to be “pretty on the inside?”
Somehow, however, that doesn’t quite jive by the time we
reach adolescence. High school often teaches us numerous lessons on who is
pretty… and who is not.
Indeed, as a little girl, my mother and I often had
discussions or “rating systems” on which of my female peers were “cute,”
“pretty” or “beautiful.” It wasn’t just about judging or picking apart facial
features. It had to do with being worthwhile.
Because, “being pretty,” largely involves acceptance, being
chosen. And isn’t that what we long for? We spend our lives chasing that chosen
feeling/reality.
I’m not against beauty; I understand its importance. Who
doesn’t enjoy looking at something or someone who is aesthetically pleasing?
But I cringe at the extreme importance placed upon “being
pretty,” often to the exclusion or negation of other valuable attributes:
kindness, personality, spirituality, talent and intellect, for instance. We’ve
heard about the pretty girl who dumbed down and downplayed her own
intellect/scholastic achievement, just to be approved of and accepted by a good
looking boy or a pressuring peer group. She wanted people to be interested in
her. And, instead of letting those non-physical qualities stand out, she
believed the lie that all she had to offer was her looks. That’s where her
worth resided.
As I watched “Our Town,” I encountered a lot of antiquated
mindsets, especially concerning male and female roles. It’d be great to think
about how far we’ve come since then. It’d
be great if we could see advancement and equality, enlightenment for all
individuals where intrinsic worth wasn’t judged by outward appearance.
Sadly, we’re not there. As sweet and endearing as that
mother/daughter “pretty” discussion was, it still rings uncomfortably true to
this day as the emphasized factor for a girl’s worth. “Pretty” is still so
important. There is an absence of the “smart,” “witty” or “kind” questions when
it comes to a female’s value.
And that is a shame. We are spiritual beings. We are who our
spirit is, not what our faces and bodies look like.
“Pretty,” by itself, is an adjective, not an end-all, be all
of individual worth. You and I can be pretty, but that should not be where we
end. There’s too much more to us. We need to tap into that. God created
incredible beings. He wants us to discover ALL of who we are, not just stop at
appearance.
As inherently valuable creations of the Most High God, you
and I are enough, AS IS, to be interesting to others and to be worthwhile,
regardless of another’s acceptance or rejection. Valuable… and wonderful, AS IS!!!
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
Psalm 139:14
This is who we are! Fully own and enjoy that Truth today!!!
Copyright © 2015 by Sheryle Cruse
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
What Is the Root Cause of Your Worry?
Featured in
June 24th’s Christians In Recovery, Sheryle Cruse references the pop
culture series, “Mad Men,” addressing the worry issue as it concerns the
process of recovery.
Our Incredible Temples (The Challenge Of Taking Care Of Them)
Scripture
tells us we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
With that
said, therefore, taking care of our Temple, known as our physical bodies, seems
to be one of the greatest challenges. I know it has been for me.
In my book,
“Thin Enough: My Spiritual Journey Through the Living Death of an Eating
Disorder,” I chronicle my struggles through all kinds of dysfunction,
disordered eating and harmful mindsets. Eventually I descended into anorexia,
bulimia and binge eating, often displaying extreme food restriction and over-exercise
behaviors. I saw food and exercise through unhealthy, punishing and dangerous
filters and extremes. I either ate nothing or everything; I either did no
exercise whatsoever or I punished myself with six grueling hours of it every
day. There was no moderation, no healthy approach, just torment, fear, guilt,
desperation and hopelessness.
Years later,
into my recovery, my challenge has been to live a healthy, not abusive or
disordered lifestyle. Through my recovery work, I’m often approached by young
people, confused and tormented by their disordered behaviors and mindsets. Many
are Christians. So, what’s the answer to this Temple issue?
Concerning
both food and exercise, the Bible does have something to say:
“Is not life more than food?”
Jesus, in Matthew 6:25
“For bodily exercise profiteth
little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come.”
1 Timothy 4:8
However,
that’s often easier read than lived, isn’t it?
Recently, I
met a vibrant personal trainer, DJ White. We had the chance to briefly speak
about her approach to health, food and fitness. Since she operates from a
Christian perspective in her training, I, therefore, thought her advice on this
challenging issue could be of tremendous benefit for those of us struggling in
this area. And, unfortunately, even Christians are not immune from eating
disorders, bad self-image, food and exercise issues. We could all use some
advice in the area of health.
I asked DJ
if she wouldn’t mind answering a few questions. She was most gracious with her
responses.
SC: What made you decide to become a
personal trainer?
DJW: I originally went to college to
become a physical therapist. A severe
allergic reaction to physics landed me in a computer class that was easy. Long story short, after 8 years of corporate
America, I realized that being active was something I loved! I became certified
and left corporate America to support the health and wellness of those who
chose or had to stay in that environment.
SC: What made you decide to become a
Christian?
DJW: I grew up with the foundation of
belief in God and prayer. We always went
to church and being a member of a church going family made it easy for me to
choose to become a Christian as a young adult.
I can’t imagine going through life any other way.
SC: What Christian faith principles do
you incorporate with your clients concerning their fitness programs?
DJW: The name of my business is P & P
Journey’s, LLC. P & P stands for
Personal and Professional Journey’s. The
logo has a diamond in the rough (soil) with three leaves representing mind,
body, and spirit. As spirit beings
trying to master the human experience, I include nutrition, activity, and
leisure in my training with my clients.
In connecting these areas the spirit gets the attention it needs to
heal, grow, and contribute in the way God intended.
SC: What advice do you give to someone
who wants a Godly effective fitness regimen?
DJW: I encourage my clients to pray and/or
meditate, with study in the morning along with their exercise routine and
proper nutrition to energize the body.
Before they begin their day “in the world”, they have done the
following: 1) given thanks and
gratitude, 2) created a space for greater wisdom, 3) engaged their physical
body in a manner that encourages and connects physical and mental strength and
discipline, 4) and they have given it the nutrients to fuel them for the
day. They have succeeded in taking care
of themselves so they can now fulfill their role and purpose in the world.
SC: What advice do you have for those of
us who have struggled with disordered eating and/or food or exercise
addictions?
DJW: In scripture when you read about your
Temple, you gain the awareness, knowledge, wisdom, and peace that this earthly
vessel is on loan for you to fulfill your purpose. Holding tight to these scriptures can and
will see you through these challenges.
SC: What motivates you in your own
health/fitness choices?
DJW: The absence of dis-ease motivates
me. My family history of different
cancers over three generations was a cycle I declared would end. My practice is my commitment.
SC: What advice would you give to someone
concerning the temptation issue?
DJW: Every time you are tempted 1)
acknowledge it, 2) make a CONSCIOUS CHOICE to overcome it 3) acknowledge the benefits of your choice,
4) once that choice is made take swift action, 5) Celebrate the choice, be responsible
and accountable for it. This is definitely more challenging acting on the
temptation, yet if you REALLY REWARD YOUR SUCCESS, you can do it!
SC: What advice would you give to someone
concerning discouragement and motivation?
DJW: Find a person who has succeeded in
what you want to succeed in. They have
been there and done that and they will bring you up so you succeed!
SC: How do you bring God into your own
personal routine?
DJW: Beyond my morning discipline that I shared
in question 4, I talk to God all the time usually thanking him for the blessing
of health and wellness. I never have nor
will I ever take it for granted.
SC: What would you tell someone who
wishes to embark upon a healthier lifestyle?
DJW: Practice breathing from you diaphragm
and listen to your body. Body awareness
must be a priority for success. Your
body will tell you what it needs if you listen to it. Use warm and cold or what feels good and not
so good (I don’t use the word bad). Your
body (spirit) will ALWAYS TELL YOU. I
tell my clients, I am the expert on how the body works. They are the experts of their body.
SC: What would you tell someone who has
had setbacks in their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle?
DJW: Every day is a new day. You are ALIVE! Celebrate that and begin! It’s not beginning again. Just begin.
Have the best day today, then repeat that when you awaken. It will become a habit sooner than you
realize!
SC: What would you tell someone who believes
it’s “too late?”
DJW: It’s never too late. I became a personal trainer at 33 and did my
first body building show at 35 years old!
My role model is 73 and she still competes and practices a healthy lifestyle. Just BEGIN!
Many of us
who struggle and are in recovery have sought support, resources and connection
for all kinds of addictions and compulsions, including drugs and alcohol.
However, the eating disorder/body image issue, I believe, should also get just
as much attention. Let’s face it: we cannot escape food and our bodies; we are daily
confronted by these realities for our very survival.
God,
however, has not desired for us to merely survive; He wants us to thrive as
well.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
3 John 1:2
“…I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
So, let’s
get some prospering souls- and bodies! God has created us to experience and
enjoy the miracle known as our lives, through our incredible Temples.
“… I am
fearfully and wonderfully made…”
Psalm 139:14
Let’s have
respect and acceptance for them today!
Copyright © 2015 by
Sheryle Cruse
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