The Diet Destiny Decision(s)

Each time you look in the mirror, see your body as your temple. That truth—refreshed gratefully each day—can positively influence your decisions about how you will care for your body and how you will use it. And those decisions will determine your destiny.

A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery—the strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience.

When we master our appetites within the bounds of God’s laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy.

Each day is a day of decision, and our decisions determine our destiny. Choose wisely each day’s decisions for eternity.

Russel M. Nelson

Decisions for Eternity http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/decisions-for-eternity?lang=eng

Typically, I don’t see my diet decisions as symbolic of my spiritual/physical strength. Usually, I’m not considering the eternal implications when I make the decision to eat of forego the cookie. Almost always, the decision is about this cookie at this moment. I’m not thinking about the next time I step on the scale, let alone eternity. I’m just thinking that I want a cookie. I’m sure if I looked at each cookie decision as a representation of my strength or weakness I would eat less cookies.

Addictions rob our freedom. Everyone knows that. But so do restrictive diets. Then again, the diets are actually easier. By turning over the reins of our diet to someone else, we give away our decisions. We don’t have to make decisions. Someone else, some diet program, has already decided for us. And it’s great. And it’s easy.

Until it’s not.

Very few of us can afford to stay “on program” for a lifetime…and eating is a lifetime activity. Every day we are all faced with the decisions of what and when to eat. Dieting/living isn’t about a program or a plan—it’s about daily, small decisions. When we give away those decisions to a counselor, coach, or personal trainer , are we really saying I’m too weak and incapable of making these decisions for myself? What does this do to our own sense of strength?

Maybe by looking at each decision as a way to not only feed our bodies, but also as a way to feed our strength (as opposed to feeding our weakness) we can reach not only optimal physical health, but also optimal emotional health and confidence in our ability to decide.