Sharon’s old life was one of constant bingeing and restricting and a false belief that being thin meant being happy. That all changed as the result of working the Twelve Steps, and in this story, Sharon shares her two main methods for working the Steps: 1) quickly every day and 2) slowly and thoroughly over weeks and months.
After one year of abstinence, Elena is challenged by thoughts, emotions, and feelings that can no longer be numbed with food, and this is her opportunity to practice surrendering so many things to a higher power. “But I never found these more difficult than going the experience of letting go of busyness and being faced with boredom,” she says.
This episode explores the nature of the disease of compulsive eating and the willingness it takes to begin the recovery journey. Some refer to the state of being just before accepting the OA program as “Step Zero.”
“I’ve learned that my serenity and peace of mind are based on how much I surrender,” says Joel, who turns to Step Eleven when emotional storms roll in.
Do you sometimes feel dissatisfied with your meetings, available sponsors, or other aspect of program? What’s the solution? For Cate M. from California USA, the solution is to shift your perspective. “Our program works without us working it perfectly,” she explains.
Liz B. shares her journey sponsoring and being sponsored and the lesson that comes when sponsors or sponsees lose their abstinence. “I found my way back,” she describes, “thanks to someon who was ‘God with skin on.’”