No one I know of ever says to themselves, as a child, “When I grow up, I’m going to have an eating disorder or an addiction.” We may dream of being teachers, police officers, firefighters or movie stars, but no one dreams of having a life fraught with destructive addictions, depression and disordered eating.
When you were a child, what did you dream for yourself?
But then, somewhere, along the way, things got off track. Low self-esteem, abuse, family circumstances beyond our control and a myriad of other reason which “trip the trigger,” we can, all too quickly, find ourselves in the grips of something we never planned.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
At the root of it all: our heart’s issues. That’s why it’s important to be careful how we think about- and talk about ourselves. We are always listening.
And, we never know who else is listening as well. There are always young eyes and ears, picking up messages. Upcoming generations are paying attention. What, via our messages, are they inheriting? For now, they’re dreaming dreams with few limits. For now, they are not addicts, cutters, suicide attempters and eating disorder sufferers. For now…
We’re coming close to the 2013 National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 24th- March 2nd, 2013). Each year, NEDA has a theme for its week; this year it is “Everyone Knows Somebody.” And sadly, that is becoming more and more of the case. You often may not even know it.
Eating disorders are built on shameful secrecy. And it all begins with a thought.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”
Proverbs 23:7
No young child starts out thinking “one day I’ll have a full blown addiction or eating disorder.” The thought, instead, is more like, “one day I’ll be acceptable…loveable…perfect…good enough… in control…happy...”
And sadly, the self-destructive coping mechanisms like eating disorders, cutting and addictions present themselves as being that exact solution.
However, they never are.
Let’s all be mindful of the messages we believe and send out to young impressionable minds. Are we placing too much importance on image, on appearance, on denying and/or covering up the “ugly Reality?” What are the results of those choices? Are they creating more problems and unhealthy results? What can we do to change that?
We can all do something. We can think differently. And we can speak differently about our bodies and our attitudes to healthy lifestyles.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:19
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Let’s all speak these words about ourselves and those around us, watching and paying attention to all we value. Then, perhaps, one day, we’ll have future generations who will say, “one day I’ll be healthy in body, mind and spirit!”
Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse
Friday, February 15, 2013
One day I’ll…
No one I know of ever says to themselves, as a child, “When I grow up, I’m going to have an eating disorder or an addiction.” We may dream of being teachers, police officers, firefighters or movie stars, but no one dreams of having a life fraught with destructive addictions, depression and disordered eating.
When you were a child, what did you dream for yourself?
But then, somewhere, along the way, things got off track. Low self-esteem, abuse, family circumstances beyond our control and a myriad of other reason which “trip the trigger,” we can, all too quickly, find ourselves in the grips of something we never planned.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
At the root of it all: our heart’s issues. That’s why it’s important to be careful how we think about- and talk about ourselves. We are always listening.
And, we never know who else is listening as well. There are always young eyes and ears, picking up messages. Upcoming generations are paying attention. What, via our messages, are they inheriting? For now, they’re dreaming dreams with few limits. For now, they are not addicts, cutters, suicide attempters and eating disorder sufferers. For now…
We’re coming close to the 2013 National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 24th- March 2nd, 2013). Each year, NEDA has a theme for its week; this year it is “Everyone Knows Somebody.” And sadly, that is becoming more and more of the case. You often may not even know it.
Eating disorders are built on shameful secrecy. And it all begins with a thought.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”
Proverbs 23:7
No young child starts out thinking “one day I’ll have a full blown addiction or eating disorder.” The thought, instead, is more like, “one day I’ll be acceptable…loveable…perfect…good enough… in control…happy...”
And sadly, the self-destructive coping mechanisms like eating disorders, cutting and addictions present themselves as being that exact solution.
However, they never are.
Let’s all be mindful of the messages we believe and send out to young impressionable minds. Are we placing too much importance on image, on appearance, on denying and/or covering up the “ugly Reality?” What are the results of those choices? Are they creating more problems and unhealthy results? What can we do to change that?
We can all do something. We can think differently. And we can speak differently about our bodies and our attitudes to healthy lifestyles.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:19
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Let’s all speak these words about ourselves and those around us, watching and paying attention to all we value. Then, perhaps, one day, we’ll have future generations who will say, “one day I’ll be healthy in body, mind and spirit!”
Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse
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