An exercise I like to work on with the people I sponsor comes from the a-b-c statements on page 60 of the Big Book.
“Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.
Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him…”
Answer these questions for yourself:
That we were compulsive with food and could not manage our own lives
- How have I abused food?
- Describe how my physical reaction is so strong that I can not consistently stop abusing when I want to.
- Describe times when my brain obsessively thinks about food.
- How does food cause problems in my life? (Stealing food/stealing money/shameful feelings etc).
- Have I ever been able to consistently manage my food and the way it affects my life?
That probably no human power could have relieved our compulsive eating.
- Make a list of the ways you have tried to manage food and food behaviors. Have any of these worked consistently or long term?
- Make a list of the ways other people have tried to manage your food and food behaviors (helpful and not helpful ways). Have any of these worked?
- Have you considered that diet programs are human powered? Have they worked consistently or only short-term?
That God/god/HP could and would if sought.
- Do I believe or am I even willing to believe there is a power bigger than me?
- Do I believe or am I even willing to believe that power cares about my food abuse enough to remove my addiction?
- The statement says “if sought” not “if found”. Just notice that difference. Write about it if you wish.
Are you convinced?
If you are convinced that you are a compulsive eater, or at least that at this moment you do not have an alternative, then you are at step 3.
If you are not convinced, OA might not be for you. I want you to know that not being convinced is ok. My communication style and the way I describe the illness may not be right for you. Perhaps there are other options still available that you would like to try. Maybe you are just not willing to believe that you are addicted to food, or unwilling to concede there is a higher power.
If it is my communication style, please check out OA podcasts and try a few different meetings. OA is open to anyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. Allow yourself time to investigate while keeping in mind that this is a program of action.
Explore and try the other options that are out there for people who have trouble with food. Maybe you have food troubles, but are not a compulsive eater.
If you decide OA is not for you, please know the door is always open if you change your mind.
The rest of my posts are going to be about how to get through the steps and my story of recovery from compulsive eating.
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21 – Step 3 Prayer – OA Dandelion
[…] my post 18 – Being convinced, we were at Step Three I provided the a-b-c statements from page 60 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous. I am at Step 3 if […]