Love or Hate?

I believe that two people can take identical actions based on entirely different motives.

Consider the following women:

Overweight Woman #1 chooses to diet motivated from guilt, shame and fear, under girded by the beliefs that 1) she is unlovely and that her body is repulsive and 2)the only way to have a happy life is to lose x amount of fat. Her body is the enemy. The scales are the gauge of success. Contentment and Self-Acceptance are completely bound to body size. Life will be lived in the future when she's finally thin. Her self-talk is self-denigrating.

Overweight woman #2 chooses to eat fewer calories and to exercise motivated from love and hope, under girded by the beliefs that 1)she already is beautiful and valuable beyond imagining and her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and 2)she will be healthier and thus happier each day she takes care of her body. Her body is her beloved friend. The scales are simply a gauge of her size, and not an indicator of her success or worth. Contentment and Self-Acceptance are freed from the tyranny of only being good enough if her butt isn't big and her skin doesn't sag. Life is lived fully each precious day and she is free to offer herself in love to the world just as she is, believing that loving other people makes her lovely. Her self-talk is full of love and compassion.

I admit that both women live inside of me. As my faith has grown over the years, the strident voice of #1 has grown quieter, and the melodic voice of #2 rings out in my soul. I have never experienced lasting change when fear/shame was in control. I grow quietly and steadily more assured each day that love/hope are powerful catalysts for slow, steady and enduring change.

As you believe, so you are.

(Day #5 on Medifast... Much BETTER! I'm peaceful and not hungry. Jeff, it's safe to come out of your room, now.)