Carol's Example
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I looked into the mirror at my legs and began to work myself up. My symptoms were tenseness, churning stomach, lowered feelings, a rise in feelings. My thoughts were, "I am so ugly and fat. I am disgusting". I spotted my fearful temper of self-blame and angry temper at the illness. I spotted my sabotage in indicting my whole character over my body. I spotted that I had undesirable exceptionality by thinking I was the worst. I spotted feelings were not facts and I needed to move my muscles and change my thoughts. I took the secure thought that I am average and healthy and that was more important than what my legs looked like. Before Recovery, I would start a strict exercise program, or do the opposite and start to overeat. Further Spotting! Ann--It sounds like Carol is now making her mental health her supreme goal and has learned how to spot her fearful temper and drop the judgment that she is wrong--such as feeling ugly, fat and disgusting. Dave--Carol didn't mention that she endorsed herself. If she didn't do it then, she can endorse herself now for making the effort to change her thoughts, and not to act on her symptoms fearfully. Betty--Carol deliberately chose some secure thoughts. In this way she got control of one part of her inner environment. This was a good way to begin to change her total experience. What does that mean? undesirable exceptionality--This is what in Recovery is considered fearful temper and extreme thinking. This really would have nothing to do with her thighs but her own thoughts.
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