Re: Excellent that you base this on God or Allah, hopefully Allah

Hey mouseclick and Sara

Thank you for your kind replies! Sorry I haven't responded in a couple of days, I needed some alone time, away from posting or online journals.

But yes, you're right mouseclick, I do believe that I will complete this journey with relative ease (or at least with acceptance), because of my mental attitude. I'm just really feeling this. I guess it was just the right time for me. I'm currently on Day 8, and while this detox has been slightly uncomfortable (physically), I've been, for the most part, feeling very alert. In all honesty, if I had any other choice, I would what you've done (and what you're doing) but something is telling me that the way I'm going about my journey will be a lot easier for me. I can't bother myself with eating until I heal--both mentally and physically. It's like I'm reprogramming my brain.

And Sara, not to offend you, but it always makes me sad to hear someone say that they've failed their fast. There is no such thing as failing a fast, but I remember when I'd say the same thing. You are more than capable of succeeding, but when the idea of failure is lurking in the background, you can only go so far. I've had a few times when I've been apprehensive about my journey, but I have to rationalize and tell myself that those fears are not relevant. What is relevant is how clean your body is becoming. I'm not sure if you are fasting for weight loss (or if it's one of the reasons why you are fasting), but I've found that really focusing my thoughts on detox has been monumental in my success so far. The weight is bound to come off, and by focusing on what my body is doing to heal itself, it makes me feel so in awe of what I'm physically capable. Right now I feel like "who cares about the weight loss", and I love the freedom in that. I know that I'm nowhere near to being healed, and so that makes me completely not into the idea of breaking my fast. Another thing that has worked is using my sense of smell during my fast. I appreciate the smells of the food that my fiance cooks, but I don't crave it because I know my body is sick and needs to heal. Regaining my focus on why I am fasting always combats any urges to break my fast, and to be honest, I've not had one urge to break my fast, since its inception. Honestly, I don't think I will for a while.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I don't think there is very much willpower involved in fasting, when you are determined to heal yourself. At least that's how it's been for me. I'm only theorizing this because every other time that I've fasted, I thought it involved willpower, and that I was too weak and that I was a failure for giving in to my cravings. Not to mention, that I was doing it for all the wrong reasons. If anything, nowadays, the only thing I am determined to do is to heal. So I guess in the end what I'm trying to say is that make sure you are fasting for the right reasons, because I think this approach makes the whole journey a lot more tolerable, and a lot more beautiful as well. Look inside yourself, and be prepared to face some serious demons. Make it more of a cleansing, spiritual journey. I can't say that I follow a religion, but regardless we all have our demons to face, and I think fasting really helps with that.

Anyway, peace to all!

estugrrl