Reaching for the Stars

Plagued by self-doubt and compulsive eating, this over-achiever finally gained the self-esteem to enjoy her accomplishments.

I struggled with my weight all my life. As a kid, I was addicted to junk food and always had to be eating something. I was obsessed with food and I hated my body. The few times I was able to diet and lose the weight, it wasn’t long at all before I put it all on again, usually gaining more than the last time. And while I was convinced that if I was thin I’d be happy, I had other problems, regardless of my weight.

Despite being very active and outgoing in school, I had very low self-esteem. I thought I was stupid, ugly and bad. I had things about myself that I couldn’t tell anybody, because I was sure they wouldn’t understand. I desperately sought the approval of my parents, teachers, and friends, often times losing my self-respect to get it. Even though I achieved a lot academically, athletically, and extracurricularly, to me, it never seemed to be enough; I was never enough.

I carried these insecurities into my adult life as I continually drove myself to achieve more all the while hating who I was. I was very codependent and was always getting involved in unhealthy relationships. My struggle with weight and overeating was constant. In fact, the more success I experienced on the outside, the more I had to eat and drink to cope with the added stress I was under. I didn’t ever believe, let alone even imagine, that I would ever see the day when my compulsion to overeat and subsequent weight problem would be relieved and I would actually feel good about myself.

Thanks to meeting Roy Nelson, I have that gift today, as well as countless other gifts I never dreamed possible! When I began getting help from Roy, my “self esteem coach,” I had problems that were mysteries to me and circumstances I didn’t know how I got into nor how to get out of! While guiding me through the Metasteps process, he gave me very practical, honest suggestions about how to solve my difficulties, with the focus always directed to listening to my own intuition, following my own heart. It was like a burden was lifted off of me! Based on the insights I gained from our conversations, I began to rearrange my priorities, and my life took on a new order. As I began making the necessary changes in my life, my self-esteem grew. I was guided to discover my own spirituality. I also learned how to never settle for second best, how to determine what I want and how to take the action to get it.

Today, I have an understanding of who I truly am, as well as the freedom of self-expression I always craved. There is a level of honesty in my relationships I didn’t know was possible. I am realizing and using talents I didn’t know I had. I have emotional stability and financially, I’m far better off than ever before. And, most importantly, I no longer have to fight food, nor any other compulsions, one day at a time. Of course, I owe all of these gifts to God; but it has been the emotional and spiritual support I have received.