Monday, September 1, 2008

The Bigger Picture

It's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when there's something you want to accomplish but aren't quite sure how to get there. Your mind can get overwhelmed with what you want to achieve, what you want to BE, what you want to feel. You can lose control. You can turn to tactics to make you feel better. You can try to make it through the day so as not to freak out.

You slip at times back to where you started. To the very things you want to get away from. But you're trying to make yourself feel better. It's a strange concept. But it happens.

Lose weight
Eat less
Throw up dinner
Use the diet pills
Use the laxatives
Harm, hurt
Gain back the control

I'm all about living in the now--but what will those things do for you in the long run?

Make you sick?
Slowly kill you?
Wreck your life?
Destroy your pride?

Don't forget to look at the big picture in terms of recovery. Take one day at a time...but be sure to have a happy, healthy life as your long term goal. Let it be your candle in the darkness, your flag waving in the distance, your lighthouse beacon showing you the way to shore.

If you focus too much on all the little steps of recovery and forget what it is you're shooting for (i.e. a new life) you're doing yourself a harsh injustice and making your already difficult journey that much harder.

4 comments:

Misch said...

First of all, you are beautiful! But probably more meaningful, your words are truly inspiring. You have captured exactly where I am at this moment in my own recovery. I will try keep a healthy life as my candle in the darkness... and as my other favorite analogy of yours I will aim to eventually be able to move into that house down the road.

Thank you Arielle for sharing such a personal blog. I hope your passion for writing will sincerely help push me along my way to recovery,

~Michelle

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Michelle, thank you! For several reasons, thank you. Your comment is much appreciated and I take your words to heart. I'm glad you are enjoying the blog and that it is inspiring you to keep fighting. The road to recovery is a rough one, but you seem to have a great outlook and a determined spirit. Keep in touch!

Thank you again.

Much love,
Arielle

Anonymous said...

great post, love what you are doing with this blog :)

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Caf,

Thanks! :)Glad you're enjoying it!

Much love,
Arielle