I Was Feeding More Than My Body
I talk a lot about making a plan, implementing that plan, and changing course when something isn’t working.
I have a confession: this week, I needed to take my own advice.
My oldest son and his family were visiting, and I overate at almost every dinner. When I took my grandchildren to a baseball game, I used that as another opportunity to eat—a lot. Yes, the snacks were organic, but apparently organic calories still count.
After several days, my body was feeling it. I was uncomfortable and literally sick to my stomach. I knew I needed to stop. I told my wife that I had eaten much lighter for the past two days because I needed to give my body a break. But as I examined behavior that was unusual for me, I realized this wasn’t only about food.
What Was I Really Feeding?
I have been walking through something deeply personal—one of the more difficult experiences of my life. I am okay, but underneath the surface has been an undercurrent of stress and emotion. Without fully realizing it, I had been trying to feed those feelings. That realization gave me greater compassion for people who struggle with emotional eating. It is easy to look at someone’s behavior and tell them what they should change. It is different when you recognize that the food may be meeting a need—or temporarily numbing something—they do not yet know how to face.
Brutal Honesty and Grace
One of the commitments I have made to myself is to be brutally honest about my behavior. That doesn’t mean condemning myself. It means refusing to make excuses or pretend something isn’t happening. I had to admit that I wasn’t eating because my body needed nourishment. I was feeding something else. Once I recognized it, I could make a course correction. I could reduce the unnecessary eating, acknowledge what I was feeling, talk with my wife, pray, and begin dealing with the real issue.
Course correction is not failure. It is part of thriving.
You Are Not Stuck
Perhaps you recognize yourself in my story. Maybe it isn’t food. It could be alcohol, spending, endless scrolling, withdrawing from people, staying excessively busy, or another behavior that helps you avoid something painful.
Start by asking yourself:
What need am I trying to meet?
Then respond with honesty and grace. You may need help from someone you trust. You may need professional guidance. You may need encouragement, accountability, or prayer. You may not be able to change as quickly as you would like—but you can change.
There is hope. There is help. There is a way forward.
You were not meant to remain stuck.
You were built to thrive.
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