Think progress, not perfection.

So, church was pretty amazing yesterday.  I meant to write about it yesterday, but it just didn't work out for some reason. The current series is called "Under Construction" and yesterday was about how to grow spiritually, basically.  The main principles of it were:

• Think relationally, not religiously.
• Religion focuses on self, relationship focuses on God.
• Religion is built on works, relationship is built on grace.
• Religion tends to judge others, relationship supports others.
• Think process, not performance.
• Spiritual growth should focus on steps, not rules.
• Spiritual growth will happen over time, not over night.
• Spiritual growth involves getting back up, not giving up.
• Think progress, not perfection.
• Spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination.
• Spiritual growth involves failure, not just success.
• Spiritual growth keeps looking forward, not backward.

I liked this a lot, because I believe that it also goes right along with losing weight, especially the last one.  I have always struggled with trying to be "perfect" when it comes to dieting.  I know it's horrible, but I'm one of those people that if I mess up and say, eat a chocolate cupcake, instead of eating lighter the rest of the day, I think "hey, I've blown today, so I might as well eat as bad as I want and start over tomorrow."  This is a killer to getting healthy, and the worst part is that I'm aware of it, but I seem to be powerless over changing it.  I then beat myself up over eating the darn chocolate cupcake in the first place, so much that it just makes me eat even worse the rest of the day.  It's a vicious cycle.  I'm also an "I'm gonna start on Monday" or "at the beginning of the month" type of dieter, and if I don't make it to the gym when I had it planned, I also feel like I've ruined the day.  I need to stop focusing on all of these rules that I've put forth on myself for dieting, because really, I'm not like this in most other aspects of my life.  I'm much more laid back and "go with the flow" for most things, except for getting healthier.  I guess my reasoning for putting this out here, is to ask for any advice that anyone might have about how to break myself from this?! Any and all will be much appreciated.

Yours,

Tara

This is the video from church yesterday. Just watch it!