You will never score a goal in a basketball game by wandering aimlessly. Your opponents will easily grab the ball from you. To be a great basketball player, you have to go through a regimen of training. It is not an easy task. There are many obstacles and trials to overcome. But it is your resolve to be successful in basketball.

You cannot overcome compulsive behavior without a plan and being determined to reach that goal. Just like scoring any goal on the basketball court, you have to get pumped up, determined, and focused. Set realistic goals… pace yourself.

Here is a list that will help you overcome compulsion:

Resolve to be stubborn
It is not your opponents that will weaken your resolve to overcome compulsion. You must be determined in the face of temptation. Be resolved to stay focused. Do not allow thoughts to drift into your subconscious, gab your resolve and chase them out, they will weaken your decisions. In the face of temptation, be firm. Be on the alert that you are being tempted, accept it but refuse to give in. Be stubborn, even when friends are tempting you, refuse to eat junk food with that same power of conviction. Give yourself encouragement when you succeed..success is infectious, spread it around.

It’s a stronger conviction to refuse to do something than it is to – try to do something. Which statement is more positive, “I will try to eat better” or “I refuse to eat junk food.” Stubbornly refusing to do something has power. It is absolute refusal that makes decisions resolute.

Resolve to be intent
Being intent is to be fixed on something. Be like an athlete preparing for the challenge. Be fixed on what you intend to achieve. Do not be distracted. Just as an archer aims for his target, he is intent to hit the target. Once he has fired his arrow, he relaxes and gets ready to become intent again. The focus is exhausting. It requires 100% attention. You can be like that. Set the goal and become totally fixed on it everyday, especially just before you eat or face temptation. Once it is over, you can relax till the next target comes up. The mind can be very determind also, and you will often find that you have failed with out being aware until  it’s too late…don’t be put-off. This happens to us all. It can give you a boost of resolve to be more vigilant. Look at how it happened, and how you were hood-winked, and see if you can “catch” yourself next time.

Resolve to end mental war
Resolute decisions end mental wars. Weak decisions are useless. There will be times you will compromise and feel like a failure. Make your decisions resolute. If you have made the decision to eat one bowl full of food per meal, resolve to feel hungry before eating. You have made a decision! “I am not getting pushed around any more. I refuse to be controlled by food. Cravings do your worst. I will not budge. I am standing firm. My decision is unchangeable. I will not give in.” These ends the mental war.
Resolve to succeed
You have made a resolve to succeed. Every day you have to go over the reasons as to why you have made these decisions. As soon as you weaken in your decision, the battle starts. Fortify these decisions because you know you will succeed.

Compulsion is a vicious cycle. Pain comes in, emotions stir to a storm: fear, insecurity, anxiety, feeling empty and deprived. These feelings will not exist if your decision is resolute. They come because you are allowing yourself to consider breaking your decision. Even if you do not break, those feelings will have weakened your decision and you will need to rebuild it. If you do not, you will fail.

Compulsive Defense Thoughts

• I can face this craving.
• I refuse to be controlled by food.
• I am staying on my diet.
• I hate junk food. It tastes like cardboard is addictive and steals my health.
• I feel weak, but I am making it.
• I am a fighter, not a quitter.
• I have control of what I eat.
• I am filled with joy.
• I am at peace and relaxed. I have no worries.
• I have abundance in all things.
• I have abundant health.
• I recover quickly.
• I hardly ever get sick.

Positive Thoughts From The Bible

All my needs are met in Christ.

• I am living in the peace of God. I am safe in His arms.
• God has done so much for me.
• I am truly blessed.
• This is going to be a glorious day.
• I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

Imagine waking up to those thoughts. Imagine your attitude. Would your life be different? Wholeheartedly, I can say, yes, it will. Depression fades, insecurities evaporate, and worry transforms into challenge. Dreams become larger, as if built on new strength, because inside you know you can do it.
Your thoughts define your limits. Think defeat and you’re defeated. Think you can’t and you won’t.

A small child at a circus was amazed to find such huge animals tied to a stake by a small rope tied around one foot. His father smiled and said, “when the elephant was young they placed a chain around its foot. No matter how hard the young elephant struggled, it could not break free. Eventually the elephant gave up trying and a rope replaced the chain.” Elephants and humans are the same; they are held in place by thin chords of attachment because they believe that they are unbreakable chains.
Believe you can. Perceive, believe then achieve. Become your own cheerleader. (No pompoms required.) Kindle the fire within. The Bible is a book of encouragement. A million angels are shouting you can do it. God Himself is cheering. You are a star in His universe.

Negative thinking gets negative results. If your present brain software isn’t working, it’s time to lap link your cerebral cortex to the most positive terminal in the universe, download a new program and reboot the system. Warning! Wear rubber boots for insulation; this is going to be one huge blast of positive voltage!