On Failure

Hi All,

Thomas Edison did not resent failed experiments in his lab. He said of a failure, "That's one more way it won't work, so we're closer to a solution."

Some other quotes attributed to Thomas Edison:

"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

"Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

"Nearly every man who develops an idea, works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."

When I ran across these Edison quotes today it struck me how relevant they are to recovery from compulsive overeating and binge eating disorder. Over the years I tried dozens and perhaps hundreds of ways to control my overeating. I started a multitude of diets. I read just about every diet book available. I made up elaborate plans and lists of rules. I wrote up countless models of what I thought might be a workable abstinence or lifetime eating plan. I tried using smaller plates, keeping my refrigerator and pantry empty, eating only standing up, drinking huge amounts of water before a meal, laxatives, fasting, protein drinks, skipping meals, eating only Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine type frozen products, constantly sucking on breath mints, various herbs, motivational books, prayer, skin patches, self-hypnosis, and of course over the counter diet pills. All this plus a long-term struggle to "get" the First Step as it applied to my eating disorders as opposed to my previous use of it in Alcoholics Anonymous.

I really feel that failure, in terms of overcoming our eating disorders, can only happen if we never try or we entirely give up. With the great blessing of hind-sight, I can honestly state that each of my failed diets and attempts to control my hunger and cravings, put me one step closer to the recovery I am experiencing today. In affect, they were and are a part of my recovery. Today, I can own all of those failed experiments in control. I consider each of them as being another small positive step toward my goal of living a healthy and meaningful life.

Love, Dave