Diane D. did all the right things to find recovery in OA, from surrendering in Step One to adopting a plan of eating and throwing herself into service. But then everything crashed because of illness and an outside addiction, and God seemed nowhere to be found. How did she make it back to recovery?
“I heard the word God and nearly ran out the door,” says Anonymous from Illinois USA, “but I stayed and listened to the leader talk about hope.” Turns out, a belief in God wasn’t necessary, nor was belief in a higher power. All that was needed were three simple words and three simple Steps.
Kara M. did all the “research”: dieting, binge eating, bulimia, weight-loss surgery. In the end, she still felt malnourished. “I was starving for something take-out food could not provide,” she recalls. And then God called her back to OA, and she learned how to change with the help and support of our program.
Jacki shares a writing exercise placing a help wanted ad for her personal Higher Power. In OA, we need a Power that is greater than our problem with food, and we get to choose for ourselves the nature of this Higher Power.
What does it feel like to be willing? It might feel so good that you can’t help but pray “make it stay forever . . . just for today.”
“I’ve found it helpful—and even necessary—to rewrite the prayers in ways that make them more meaningful to me,” says A.M. who says this helps with his humility and gives him greater strength and hope.
Jacki’s prayerful poem beautifully creates a space for conscious contact with your own Higher Power.
After struggling with weight and atheism, Frank H. found a Higher Power within himself, transforming his approach to recovery through Overeaters Anonymous.
“After several years of my sugar-free food plan, everyone started getting on my last nerve,” says Judith. But TWICE when she hopped into her car and set off to get a trigger food, Higher Power had a different plan.
“For those who feel they don’t quite belong in OA, I’m here to say you don’t have to believe in a particular God or way—your desire to stop eating compulsively is enough.”