Forgive My Hidden Faults

A few thoughts...

Stress?! What do you do when you are overwhelmed?

Do you find yourself stress eating? Grabbing a donut and losing yourself into the sensations of the moment?  Arguing with yourself about if you should grab another one? Anguishing about having eaten a donut for hours afterwards? Eating a treat like a donut is not a willful sin, but the beliefs you hold can make you feel like it is. Depending on your beliefs and unconscious habits, you may also feel out of control and that the food or the situation is ruling over you.

Underlying Beliefs & Habits

Food is frequently used as a substitution for something comforting or rewarding. Neurochemically foods creates pleasure or can help to relax, which is an escape from the current feelings. Use of food for comfort can be an unconscious habit that developed because of childhood beliefs and experiences. These beliefs can also be tied to specific foods that have memory triggers on them, like a donut given to a child by a frazzled adult as a distraction to stop an outburst. Or given as a bribe for good behavior before doing something undesirable or difficult.

Yet, as adults we hold ourselves to high standards for following diet rules or self-control. We judge or punish ourselves in our inner dialog when our action deviates from our expectation.

This is a rough cycle. Stress triggers an unconscious habit that leads into negative thinking. Feelings of insufficiency increase likelihood of feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Transformative Faith

There is great reward in seeking God to break through stressful situations and responses. He can help to strengthen internal coping and resilience. Feelings of guilt, shame, fear or loneliness may be at core in these moments. God, Christ and the Holy Spirit offer us safety, forgiveness and love that can transform these feelings.

God is a great resource on your journey for improved health. In the moment, a short prayer can increase your likelihood of responding to stress in a healthier manner. Prayer calms the mind and soothes the heart, an active reminder that we are never alone. His Word is sweet and nourishing. It will revive you and help you gain perspective.

Prayer and Journal

What situation triggered the stress eating (or the inner dialog about it)?

What beliefs do I hold about the situation?

Am I running to food because of the present or the past?

How does God want me to grow from this situation?

With His insight, how can I re-frame my beliefs about the situation, so that it is a positive growth opportunity?

The next time I find myself in a similar situation, what will I do?

My hope for you...

I hope that these words (or what you experience through doing this as a journaling exercise) can serve to inspire and energize changes in lifestyle and food choices. You deserve to have flourishing health to be able to serve God, Family & Country.