Don G. Dinsdale Loc: El Cajon, CA (San Diego County)

ACTING OUT

The cause may be hidden, but the resulting consequence is known. ---- Ovid

We know it's coming before we do it. We have a fight with our partner and we head straight for the ice cream. We don't get the promotion so we treat ourselves to a new leather jacket, one that we neither need nor can afford at the moment. We get dumped by our significant other & head for the bars. We decide that because we're feeling bad anyway, we might as well take full advantage of it. " Hell, I've 'EARNED' this " ...... we think. " I'll show them !! " We rationalize the worse we feel, the more entitled we are to our indulgence.


This type of behavior starts a cycle. The worse we feel, the more we want to self-destruct. And these types of actions / re-actions, like it or not ; ........ these actions are usually premeditated. And most times, they encumber great consequences

We begin to think about the ice cream, the leather jacket or the bars until we convince ourselves & get fully on board with it. It is during this ' planning stage ' that we can ( & must ! ) shift gears. We think it all the way through. We know we have other choices. We decide to do something healthy instead of self destructive. We avoid another self induced, guilt ridden, emotional, hangover.

Today I will make only healthy choices for myself ....... mentally, spiritually, emotionally, & physically !!