Step 3 asks us to honestly examine our willingness to put our trust in something beyond our eating disorders. As we read on Monday, even though a leap or change is not required at this step, just stating our willingness can feel terrifying because we still have faith that our eating disorders are what keep us safe. The rush of fear that hits people when they say “I am willing to do whatever it takes” is may be a part of you that is terrified and thinks that prioritizing something over the eating disorder is deeply unsafe.

Journal prompt: 

Say out loud or think to yourself: “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to recover”  and listen to your own internal responses, writing each one down. We might hear our protests like “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to recover but…

• Not to work less overtime
• Not set a boundary with my parents
• Not seek a higher level of treatment 
• Not to leave this toxic relationship
• Not to take quiet time for myself every day
• Not to throw away clothes that don’t fit
• Not to start today (I’ll start tomorrow, when I weigh x pounds, when I’m “sicker.”)
• Not to stop weighing myself
• Not to be honest with my therapist
• Etc, etc etc

For each “but not” statement, ask your wisest self (or another conception of a higher power if that works for you) what you would need to believe to overcome that fear.