15 Healthy Alternatives for the Unhealthy Appetite
CBN.com Each of these alternative activities is a healthy means of filling our natural desires by building us up, bringing us pleasure, and satisfying our desires. None will cause you to feel guilty or require you to seek forgiveness after participating in them. By engaging in activities you find enjoyable, you will give your brain a whole new set of pleasurable activities to call on in times of stress. Just remember that moderation is the goal in all activities. Youre not trying to replace the obsession or excessive indulgence with another activity.
1. Get some exercise.
This is probably the healthiest alternative imaginable. Not only is exercise the number-one stress reducer, it also controls appetite, increases energy and body temperature, releases endorphins, and improves sleep quality. Physical exercise is the most natural way you can come to experience a state of well-being or satisfaction.
2. Listen to music.
Music has been shown to cause a variety of emotional states in those listening. When you need to relax, listen to some calming music. If you need some extra energy, find something upbeat that makes you want to move. Be aware of your moods and your needs, and you will find that music can play a big part in helping you achieve a positive emotional state.
3. Get a massage.
Not only is massage a wonderful way to pamper yourself, it also has several positive benefits. Massage creates a feeling of relaxation and peace, decreases stress and anxiety, and it reduces blood pressure. Getting a massage also helps improve your self-esteem because you are acknowledging that you deserve to be pampered. And a final benefit of massage is that it helps to fulfill our basic human need for caring touch.
4. Take a bath.
Go the extra mile and make it a bubble bath or use some aromatherapy. A warm, soothing bath will produce feelings of relaxation and pleasure.
5. Read.
Taking time to read a good book, an inspirational story from a magazine, or even the comics or sports page of the newspaper. What you enjoy will be unique to you, so dont get stuck in the rut of comparing yourself to others. Just find what type of reading material brings you pleasure and start reading it as often as you can.
6. Get some R&R.
Learn more fun ways to rest and relax, and do it more often. There may be some things that you can do on a daily or weekly basis that will help you put the stresses of the world behind you. But we believe it is also important to have more significant getaways that last for a couple of days or more. Vacation time really does make a difference in your mind-set and outlook. How long has it been since you really got away for some serious R&R.
7. Pray and meditate on Scripture.
Through our personal time of prayer and meditation on gods Word, we will find the peace that passes understanding. Spending time in Gods presence helps us remember who we are and how very much we are loved. Talk about putting a smile on your face! Scripture tells us Jesus often went to a place by Himself and prayed (
Scripture tells us we should pray continuously (
; ), we should be devoted to prayer ( ), we should pray to help us avoid temptation ( ), and when we dont know what to say, the Spirit will intercede for us ( ). We are also instructed to bring everything to God in prayer ( ), and to pray when in trouble ( ).8. Talk to a friend or therapist.
Not only does talking through your stresses with a close confidant help relieve those stresses, but it will also help you feel more connected to another human being.
9. Keep a journal.
Spend some time alone just to consult your thoughts and feelings. Then take some time to journal about whats going on in your life and how you feel about things. Journaling can help you sort out the many things that may be going on in your head and heart. Once you have expressed your feelings in writing, they become much easier to understand and control.
10. Learn deep breathing and relaxation skills.
Learning to relax through the use of deep breathing and relaxation skills will serve as a great way to reduce your tensions and stress. If you want deep breathing to work, however, you must use your diaphragm in the same manner that professional singers do. When you breathe this way you will find that it is your stomach that moves, not your chest. This is our most natural form of breathing. When you watch newborn babies breathe, you see their little stomachs are going in and out not their chests. This is the way we were created to breathe. But somewhere along the way we have been told to suck in that stomach and stick out that chest, and we have moved away from our natural breathing. It is this diaphragmatic breathing that will instill a sense of relaxation internally. Why not start practicing today?
11. Become involved in discipleship.
Discipleship involves growing in wisdom and knowledge of God through the process of gathering together with other believers. This involves more than just your personal quiet time. It is the fellowship of believers that results in building each other up, mentoring and accountability, and Bible study. Discipleship serves the purpose of spiritual growth and gives us a sense of connection and belonging that we all need.
12. Do something for someone else.
The process of giving to and doing for others can lift your spirit and bring about a sense of pleasure faster than just about anything else. When you give of yourself altruistically, you are focusing on what you can do for others. You have moved away from a focus on self to a focus on others, and this is always a good place to be. There is an additional byproduct of altruism beyond the great feeling you will have for giving to others. You will likely notice that as you give to those around you, you begin to realize that you are useful and have something to offer to others. You begin to feel more valuable thus enhancing your own self-esteem as well.
13. Laugh.
Laughter is good medicine, especially when it comes to managing stress and increasing pleasure in ones life. Laughter is the natural expression of pleasure and fun. The more we can include laughter in our lives, the better we will feel physically and emotionally.
14. Find a hobby.
If you dont already have a hobby, find one. If you do have one, start doing it actively. Make the time to do some of the things you enjoy on a regular basis. So often we allow ourselves to get so busy with the ins and outs of our daily life that we put our hobbies on the back burner or maybe forget about them altogether. Hobbies bring us pleasure, and if we are going to be successful in overcoming our appetites, we could use all the sources of pleasure we can find. So pull out those old golf clubs, clean up the paintbrushes, find the knitting needles, or untangle the fishing poles and head for some fun.
15. Attend a meeting.
Rather than get on the Internet to view pornography or charge up your credit cars with items you dont need or place a bet you probably wont win, get up and go to a meeting. Call a church and find out when their Christian recovery or support groups are meeting. Call information and get the number for Alcoholics Anonymous. Find out when and where the next meeting is happening near you. You will be surprised at what going to a meeting will do for you.
Meeting others who are struggling and hearing of how God is working in their lives will help you believed He is also working in your life. At least thats what meetings do for me (Steve). I was at a very low point in my life when a friend took me to a twelve-step meeting. We sat there and I said nothing. There was nothing sensational or dynamic about the meeting, but every person who spoke talked of a fear-based life. I realized by listening that I had a lot in common with these people. Then they shared how God was working in their lives, and I came to believe He must be doing the same in the midst of my despair.
You dont have to be a member of a group to benefit. You can do what I did and just go to observe. But by the time the meeting is over, there is a very good chance you will see your life improve.
Excerpted from Feeding Your Appetites by Steve Arterburn.
New Life Ministries wants to be a source of hope and encouragement for you. If youd like to know about other resources for finding help in hurtful situations or if you need to speak with someone, call us anytime at 1-800-NEW-LIFE or visit www.newlife.com.
