If you are struggling to get healthy, a different perspective is what you need to get started or stay consistently committed. One day does not define a person. You are defined by the cumulative choices that you have been consistently making. If your desire is to be totally healthy, the shift must begin by understanding this.

FIRST STAGE, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT

We can understand that we did not become unhealthy overnight. However, the issue for so many people struggling with weight issues is that they fail to accept that they are 100% responsible for the current state of their health. Trust me, I can relate. It was difficult for me to accept that I was where I was because of the choices I HAD CONSISTENTLY CHOSEN to make. Acceptance is the first shift that you must make.

UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CONSISTENTLY MAKE THAT CHOICE

Remember, most people ACT for one of two reasons:

1. To numb or distract themselves from pain [physical, spiritual, or psychological]
2. To gain pleasure

However, how we choose to act is dependent on four things:

1. Our core beliefs
2. Our patterns of thinking
3. The thoughts we hold on to
4. The emotions/feelings we CHOOSE to create

THE SECOND STAGE TO YOUR SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE

Failure to understand that we are responsible for the feelings we create is responsible for many of us living a repetitive cycle of losing weight-gaining weight-losing weight-gaining weight. Tied closely to this is not realizing that you are EATING for reasons other than physiological hunger. Food fulfills one purpose and one purpose only – physiological hunger. If you ever found yourself binge eating, it is because you are HOLDING ON TIGHTLY to a belief that food can meet other needs [emotional, spiritual, mental, or financial].

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Many people honestly do not know what they are feeling and secondly, many people run away from the feelings they are creating. It is a bit of a paradox, because you cannot run away from something that you are creating. Hence it becomes important for you to STOP and ASK yourself,

1. “Why do I keep creating these emotions and feelings?”
2. “What benefit do I gain from holding on to these unhealthy core beliefs and unhealthy patterns of thinking?”

AT THE ROOT OF EVERY ACTION IS A BELIEF

I really need you to pause for a moment and reflect on this. There is a core belief(s) that starts the ball rolling. Yet I want to take it a step further, that belief is there because of one reason. There are doubts, which essentially boils down to a lack of trust. The lack of trust is two-fold:

1. Lack of trust in your capability, value, and worth.
2. Lack of trust in God’s love, power, and providence.

This LACK of trust has you BELIEVING something(s) that is not true. Furthermore, that untruth has you confused about your capability. The truth is we are not capable of achieving anything without the love and will of God.

THE FINAL STAGE IN SHIFTING YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Lose the ego, the idea that you are in control, and the belief that you have the willpower to make sustainable change. Instead realize that you can achieve ALL things only by the grace of Jesus Christ. However, this can only happen when we learn to fully surrender to God’s will, which will only happen when we fully CHOOSE to walk in the spirit and not in our flesh. It is the realization and comprehension that God’s way has always been and will always be BEST.