Thoughts on a Cold Day

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Today is a perfect day for sitting inside, staying warm, and indulging in something you enjoy. However, many of can get stuck in old addictive behaviors if we don't stop and think before we indulge in something we enjoy.

Lately, I've been thinking about using centering prayer techniques to help me deal with my compulsive eating addiction. I have learned techniques associated with centering prayer that help me deal effectively with obsessive thoughts (cravings. This morning in a centering prayer group, I learned that not only can redirecting my obsessive thoughts to something spiritual work during centering prayer but doing so can also help me cope with cravings to eat compulsively.

The technique involves acknowledging the intrusive thoughts and immediately redirecting them to a spiritual focus. It works something like this: I suddenly want a piece of pizza even though I know I cannot eat just one. Then, I need to recognize the thought for what it is (temptation, if you will), acknowledge it, and redirect my thoughts to something spiritual. For me, at least today, the thought that "Yeah, that sounds good, but today I have turned my will and my life over to the care of my God as I understand him" does the trick. My food cravings are immediately put into a realistic perspective. No piece of pizza, or whole pizza for that matter is as powerful as knowing you are "God powered."

If you would like to know more about this topic please go to:

http://evolvingelder.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/oh-you-again/

God bless and keep you.