I wrote about this on Facebook this morning, but thought it will help you as well. One of the consistent trends I've noticed among people who have emotional eating issues is that we are nurturers. We have heart. We love to take care of people and handle things around us - even if those things aren't within our realm to control!

And when a crisis occurs (or a valley in life), our first tendency is to abandon ourselves to deal with that. But I want you to decide that abandoning yourself is not an option.

During those valley times, you need EVERY resource to help you deal with them. You need spiritual strength and physical resources too. It's even more important that you take care of yourself, even if it's just 10 minutes, 1 day a week. 

In looking at this issue, I found it so ironic that abandonment was one of my biggest fears. My father had abandoned our family, but yet I was during the same thing. I was abandoning myself by refusing to take care of myself!

I'll bet many of you have an "all or nothing" mentality right now. You'll go on a diet (or exercise program) and push strong for a while, but then your motivation fades or something happens in your life. It doesn't matter what that "something" is, but it's enough where you feel like you must abandon yourself and your efforts to deal with that.

But isn't abandoning yourself what got you here to begin with? Abandoning yourself is unacceptable. 

Say it with me: "Abandoning myself is unacceptable."

Make this your new normal. You deserve at least 10 minutes 1 day a week. This is your LIFE. It's not a diet in which you say "I'll do this thing for a little while, then go back to my "normal" way. 

No, work to create a 'new' normal in which eating well and fitness is just a part of your new life. Even if you can only do 1 or 2 things to take care of yourself, then make those symbolic efforts to show yourself that your needs are important. 

Show yourself that you matter - even as you are taking care of everybody else in your life. Put yourself on the list!

Keep working on that as your goal. Enjoy each day and respect your efforts. Taking care of yourself is part of learning to guard your heart. along with feeding on God's word and walking with Him on a daily basis. 

Proverbs 4:20-27

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;

Keep them in the midst of your heart;

For they are life to those who find them,

And health to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you.

Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you.

Ponder the path of your feet,

And let all your ways be established.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

Remove your foot from evil.