not sure i believe in a higher power...

[kakakatie]

so how do i find hope? one of the 12 steps is to "Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity"...but what if i float in limbo land and say that there may be a god and that there may not be a god...i think there's a lot of evidence on both sides...and ultimately, i don't think we can ever truly understand or know...in fact, much of my food problem is b/c of this, my fear of death and that there is no higher power. i am so afraid every moment...i often numb myself with food, which of course only helps for a few short minutes...so what do i do if i'm not sure i believe in a higher power? thank you all. good luck to ya!

[Jackie]

Dear Not Sure,

There are many who come through the doors who feel the same way you do. Some choose to use the group as their Higher Power or rely on their sponsor's Higher Power. The important thing is for us food addicts to realize that we are not the Higher Power. And as far as not sure that there isn't any Higher Power, I guess that I can't look at a lovely flower or a beautiful sunset and think that it just happened all by accident. And we don't need to understand how electricity works to just flip on the switch and have the lights come on. I'm not sure that any of us really can know with any certainty with our finite minds the nature of God or a Higher Power and we really don't need to understand (thank goodness!) to be able to ask for help from our Higher Power. When I came back to FAA, I felt like I had drifted so far from my Higher Power that having that feeling of contact was so slight and I kept feeling like I was praying into a black hole and I truly do think that my Higher Power heard me. Sometimes we only need to act "as if".....

[kakakatie]

Thank you (:

[oragold]

Hi Not Sure,
When I came to FAA I felt also very unsure about my relationship to a Higher Power and how it could directly help me in my program. However, as I worked my second step "came to believe a power greater than myself could restore me to sanity" I saw that there were many things that I clearly knew were a power greater than me. Some of the things I noted were the 7 billion people in the world, the ocean's waves that constantly move, the wind, my heartbeat, I could go on.

Ultimately, I became very clear that I have a condition that is difficult to deal with (in other words a biochemical sensitivity that I am powerless over) and that a power greater than myself could restore me to sanity (i.e. loving people that can help me with a solution to it) . So I've been able to relax into this loving fellowship and explore other issues of higher power with a clear mind and heart and at my leisure. It is a true pleasure and my relationship with the greater world that exists grows deeper each month.

All the best to you!

[Diane]

Hi Not Sure,

I would lovingly suggest you gather as much information as possible before making your decision or perhaps this action might help you to make a decision in your best interest. There are many ways in Food Addicts Anonymous to gather information:

* attend meetings (telephone, online and FAALoop) as well as continuing to post here in the FAA Online Support;
* Listen and/or read about the experiences, strengths and hopes of other food addicts;
* If you identify with someone get their phone number and/or e-mail address;
* read over the 12 steps on the FAA website (www.foodaddictsanonymous.org (http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org)) and pay close attention to steps 1,2,and 3. Look in Step 3 where it is stated "a God of your understanding". A power greater than can be whatever speaks to you. For me, I call my Higher Power God. A Higher Power might be the group for some, nature for others or whatever speaks to the individual food addict.;
* read over the FAA food plan which you will find on the FAA website under the Guide To Abstinence;
( Consider doing this for yourself. For me (this food addict) this FAa program works if I work it and now I know I am worth it.

Feel free to contact me via e-mail.

In gratitude for the FAA fellowship,
Diane
Queens4463@aol.com