Prayers to Nurture New Behaviors and Understandings of Eating

Growth needs nourishment.

Today I will sustain my body, as God sustains my spirit.

Open my eyes to understand:

that food is not a goad

to make myself work

or a whip

to punish myself.

that I am worthy to eat

whether I succeed or fail,

whether I feel good or bad,

pride or shame,

whether or not my work is finished,

even if someone is upset with me,

and when I am upset with myself.

The highest mitzvah is preservation of life

and the highest work is nurturing life:

Today I will not starve myself

in order to do lower work.

Today I am prepared to designate time/space

to breathe, to eat, and to do the work of living.

Merciful One – remind me

that there is no perfection

in thinness and emptiness.

Merciful and compassionate God –

Help me to cease from abusing myself.

Today I will not show contempt for my life

by withholding or throwing up what nourishes it.

Today I will not swallow my feelings in place of food.

Today I will not starve myself into numbness.

I believe that my body is worth nourishing,

I believe that my life is worth sustaining.