06 – Simple But Not Easy

Choosing Our Path: Reflections from the 12 Steps

A friend in the program recently shared a non-OA article with me about the idea of “Choosing Your Hard.” It said things like: Being overweight is hard. Losing weight is hard. The message was simple but profound—life isn’t easy either way, so we must choose the difficulties that lead to healing rather than suffering.

That really resonated with me, so I created my own version through the lens of the OA 12 Steps:

Step 1 – Abstaining from trigger foods and behaviors is hard. Living with the consequences of my compulsion is hard.

Step 2 – Trusting that a Higher Power can restore me to sanity is hard. Continuing to live in the chaos of compulsive eating is hard.

Step 3 – Making a decision to change my life is hard. Staying stuck in the pain of indecision is hard.

Step 4 – Taking a searching look at my past and relationships is hard. Suppressing my feelings is hard.

Step 5 – Accepting my imperfections is hard. Maintaining illusions is hard.

Steps 6 & 7 – Asking to be changed is hard. Repeating the same patterns and staying hurt is hard.

Steps 8 & 9 – Facing the things I’m ashamed of is hard. Holding onto secrets is hard.

Step 10 – Recognizing that everyone, including me, is a work in progress is hard. Living with unrealistic expectations is hard.

Step 11 – Believing that a power greater than myself cares whether I harm myself with food is hard. Being trapped in shame is hard.

Step 12 – Offering help to others is hard. Navigating this disease without community is hard.

We Don’t Walk Alone

We didn’t choose to have a problem with food—but the problem exists. The beautiful part is, we don’t have to face it alone.