Truth Telling

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Throughout my time in OA, I have been helped by certain program slogans. Simply saying them can change my frame of mind.

When I have been in pain, physical or emotional, “This too shall pass” has helped me. In college I had very strong cravings to go eat binge foods I knew would make me feel bad. So I’d think, do I want to feel a small pain (the craving) now or feel a big pain later (after bingeing)? When I said to myself, “This too shall pass,” I could be convinced that the craving would pass, and I did not have to eat over it. Eating would just make things worse. If I was physically hurting, I could take medicine; if I was upset emotionally, I could concentrate on feeling and soothing my emotions, rather than eating in reaction to them. Expressing my feelings through writing or talking helped get me through discomfort—and so did the phrase “This too shall pass.”

Sometimes the desire to binge comes when I’m in conflict with others. I currently live with people who do not believe in God, and it seems they do not like that I do believe in God. My Higher Power is one of the most important things in my life. I believe that God gets me through in an abundance of ways. Sometimes, when people disagree with me about God being real, it makes me want to overeat. I have to remember that everyone has his or her own opinion—it doesn’t make mine wrong—so I think of “Live and let live.” I remember to love other people exactly the way they are and not try to change them. I also remember to love myself and respect my beliefs.

I really appreciate the phrase “Abstinence is the most important thing in my life without exception.” When I tell myself this, I am free. Instead of bingeing, I tell myself, “You don’t have to do anything today, except abstain.” Nothing is more important; that gives me courage to do whatever it takes to keep my abstinence. Sometimes I’m forced to do things that take extra courage, such as making an outreach call; sometimes I have to avoid the grocery store when I’m hungry. I make sure to get enough sleep and to shower in the morning so I’m relaxed going into the day. I also use meditation to calm my mind. Using these tools demonstrates discipline; they’re my way of supporting myself to make sure that “abstinence is the most important thing in my life without exception.”

Slogans have definitely been a big help to me and increase my ability to stay abstinent. Our minds can tell us truth or lies. To me, telling the truth means telling myself positive statements. Positive slogans can help you, too, live a healthy, happy, and abstinent life.

— Anonymous

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