You can ask any one of the girls in my group...I'm always challenging them to ask the "why" questions. Why do you do that? And most of the time, the answer to the first "why" question will beg another "why" question. It's sort of annoying, but when you earnestly seek the answers to the "why" questions, you can get to the root and begin to address some of the problems in your life.

For me, I've been asking some tough "why" questions for a few years. Especially in regards to eating. For a long time, I avoided the why questions and used justification tactics. Those worked reallllly well to keep me in denial of any problems that I had. I can give you a great example of this, one I laugh really hard about now. I remember after I gave birth to Abby I was nursing her. My eating was out of control. My mom, lovingly attempted to address that with me and my response to her was, "Mom, I'm nursing...I NEED this extra 'nutrition'". Baaahahahahah!! WOW. Welcome to justification junction.

Over the last 3 years, my unhealthy eating and thought patterns have improved in "layers". I honestly can't believe how many layers there have been and I'm wondering how many layers are left to go. Can't really worry about that one, doing so would hinder my progress. I can say that each layer has been a season of growth and overcoming. Some of the layers took longer to peel back thanks to my own rebellion and stubbornness -- *sigh*. But the layer peeling usually begins with the why questions.

Being on vacation this week has prompted me to ask the toughest why questions yet, ones that will hopefully peel off the next layer for me. Not being in my little controlled environment with all my food and all my support mechanisms and people in place has challenged the layer that currently exists. And of course, I have a choice -- I can choose to let this refine me or I can choose to let the layer sit for another season. Hello Big Jim Walker....

I'm looking forward to sharing some of the why questions I'm encountering...next time!

Until then, I challenge you to ask yourself a "why" question....you never know, it might just change your life!

k