I have talked to several people recently who, despite my best efforts to steer them in a different direction, insisted on explaining to me (in great detail) why they couldn’t do what I was suggesting they do.

GRANTED, I do not have a crystal ball (and my wand is fake :o). I can’t really guarantee to anyone that the very action I suggest they take will CHANGE THEIR LIFE.

I can guarantee this:  What will change their life is the act of following directions. Any directions. The act of surrender.

If I tell a person to push a peanut across the floor with their nose, the act of pushing the peanut will not benefit them per se. But the act of surrendering their will, WILL.

It’s what I call my “Dr. Phil Philosophy,” which is for bariatric-surgery patients, including me, to ask ourselves , “How well is my way working for me?”

When John (who agreed to let me talk about him here) spent almost an hour yesterday detailing why he could not stop eating in the evening, I suggested he go outside and walk in the evening to get away from his kitchen, and to get some (perish the thought) exercise. You’d think I suggested he peel his skin off.

“Yeah, right!” He laughed in defiance.

Okay, so maybe my idea wasn’t appealing to him. But would it keep him from grazing nonstop from after dinner until bedtime? Yes. Would it cure his cravings? Maybe. Maybe not. But he has to start somewhere.

It’s not so much that the walking is the cure. It’s the act of John saying to me, “Okay, I will. I’ll take a walk after work every day this week and keep a log to see how it affects my evening eating.”

By the end of our session, John had said, “Okay, I will.” He will reap the rewards of that decision, I have no doubt. He will move closer to his goal of self mastery.

Being stuck means being unwilling to try something, anything, different. It’s a choice. It’s a decision.

If you have dismissed suggestions from others, make a different choice today.

Choose to follow directions and see how this act of willingness changes your life.

XO

Katie

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