Happy Easter, and a Bit on Sacrifice and New Life

I was thinking today about sacrifice.  The "reason for the season" involves a sacrifice (the ultimate) being made for mankind, and then the tomb was empty.  Raised into new life. 

So appropriate that this Holiday is in Springtime.  New life is everywhere, isn't it?  From the lambs in the fields, to the flowers down the lane, the new leaves on the trees, and in our neck of the woods the perfume of millions and millions of orange blossoms linger in the air.

For me, it is a good time to reflect, a good time to think.  This morning I was thinking about sacrifice.

Why are we so afraid of that word in our own lives?  Why are we so hesitant to "give up" anything?  Sometimes we HAVE to give up something in order to receive something even better.  If we are holding on too tightly to something in our fist, then our hand is not open to receive anything else.

Are you holding on to food?

How would you know if you were?

Well, if you have thoughts that sounds like this:

I've been struggling so bad lately with the cravings.....I could hardly stand to watch my kids open their Easter Baskets....I've been grumpy all day because my husband ordered Pizza last night and I couldn't have any...I really want REAL food....I just can't seem to stay on plan even one day....I'm so bored with the Lean and Greens...I just couldn't resisit....I just had to....I found myself eating.....

Then you, my friend, are firmly holding on to food as tightly as your fist can. 

Why not let it go?  Why not sacrifice your devotion to food and your stomach, in order to gain something much more valuable, which is health, and the happiness that comes along with knowing that you aren't worshiping at the alter of food?  Because if you are letting food, and your devotion to it, keep you from living your best life TODAY, if your weight has become such an issue so as to be a consideration in every decision you make throughout your day, then  you are destined to ALWAYS struggle, to ALWAYS be overweight or obese, and to ALWAYS be trying to "diet".

Why not let it go, trust the plan, actively turn your attention (FORCE your attention) on to something that will enrich you life, not kill you?

That is a decision I made when I began my plan.  Food had been my "god" for so long and I was very comfortable with that.  I broke that relationship purposefully.  I sacrificed the comfort of knowing where I stood with food (fat and unhappy, BTW), and delved into this great adventure of life and the unknowns that came with becoming someone I had only dreamed of.  A healthy person.

I had SEEN healthy people, so I knew they existed.  I knew they were not a myth.  But until I found a tool that could actually GET me there and KEEP me there, I didn't have hope of every BECOMING one of them.

And now I am.  Because I trusted the plan, I made today an ON PLAN day, but MORE than that I decided to sacrifice my unhealthy and co-dependent relationship with food and ALLOW a void, ALLOW a vacuum in my soul that I could then fill with legitimate things.  My family.  Relationships.  My relationship with God.  All those things I had been neglecting, all those things that my relationship with food had pushed to the sidelines, or pushed out entirely.

I did that with intention, I did NOT pine over food, write about food, dream about food in day dreams, watch the Food Network, buy the food magazines, etc. 

So what will you sacrifice today in order to receive something better tomorrow?  Someone I know did that about 2000 years ago too, and I'm so glad He did. 

I am a Certified Health Coach and the program I recommend has successfully helped people create health in their lives for 15 years!  E-mail me at mycoachstacy@gmail.com for a FREE consultation!

Happy Easter!

Rinse and Repeat!