Building our own toolbox of the tools we have to use in our recovery is a great minder that we have more tools then we can recall at the time we most need them. The desire or way to decorate the toolbox should be a very personal decision. Being willing or able to decorate may come in time as your journey progresses. Some ideas for a physical toolkit may be an actual toolbox or fishing tackle box, a wooden chest or even an actual box. These should be big enough to hold multiple items including papers, notes, affirmations you find are helpful, actual physical representations of a tool, any of the creative items that encourage you to be your best, reminders of tools you have learned from techniques such as DBT, CBT, plans on what you can do when encountering a triggering situation, etc. that you can incorporate into your journey of recovery. The tools in your box ought to be specific for your benefit and be meaningful to you. You might want to place this toolbox where it is visible and is easily accessible when you need it.
If you are into working outside you could start to design a small flower garden. Start small, think about where the garden is going to go, and choose the flowers you may want to put into it. I prefer perennials that come up every year as opposed to flowers that you may have to plant each year. Your garden can be a combination of both types. Your flower garden is your own; make it what you like. Having my flower garden where I can see it when I drive into my own driveway, walk into my house or look out my window makes me smile (even if it is for a short time) every time I see it. My garden has flowers in it that were of the kind of flowers those persons that I deeply cared about liked. This brings those people to mind which again makes me smile. Weeding this garden if and when it may need also promotes mindfulness.
Find a hobby that you have and may have let go because our eating disorder makes us. Our eating disorder works so very hard to encourage us to believe we can’t do anything. THIS IS NOT TRUE. We can do anything we set our mind to. Take it slow, and work at it. Currently my hobby of choice is learning to work with resin. I am learning to make items that I can give as presents. I have thrown away more items that I can count because this is a learning process and I felt that they were not up to par. I have learned that everything I do does not have to be perfect. Again, just acceptable to me.
You could resume reading any type of book you are interested in; sometimes for knowledge and sometimes just for entertainment. If you prefer to use your electronics, download a book. If you are not financially in a position to do this whether it is downloading or buying an actual book, go to your local library. Library cards are free.
Other hobbies that can be things such as teaching yourself to knit, sew, bake, scrap booking, camping, swimming or hiking (if your professional support team okays this since some of us have issues with exercise). Other hobbies may be things such as anything where we work with our hands.
Resuming a long neglected hobby or starting a new hobby we are interested in promotes mindfulness since we have to give our hobby 100% of our attention. It also helps to help us see that we CAN DO IT! So find a hobby you might want to take up and go for it.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I know and believe that those of us who suffer from an ED of any type can beat it. It is hard work and at times feels impossible; but I am sure it is a goal that is obtainable to all of you out there.
KEEP YOUR CHIN UP! Take baby steps towards your recovery, put one foot in front of the other and know, with a capital K, you CAN do it. Even if you can’t see it now, the world needs you!
Wings of Recovery 