STEP 1: “We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.”
For Enneagram Type 6, working Step One involves facing the role that fear, anxiety, and the need for security play in their relationship with food. Type 6s may use food to calm their anxieties or as a way to manage uncertainty, constantly seeking safety and reassurance.
1. Admit Powerlessness Over Using Food to Soothe Anxiety:
Type 6s tend to rely on food to soothe their anxiety and provide a sense of safety. Admitting powerlessness means recognizing that food won’t provide the security they seek.
- Reflection question: “How have I used food to calm my fears and anxieties, and how has this approach failed me?”
2. Recognize the Unmanageability of Fear and Worry:
For Type 6s, life can become unmanageable when fear and anxiety dominate their thoughts and behaviors, particularly around food.
- Reflection question: “How has fear and worry affected my ability to manage my eating and my relationship with food?”
3. Acknowledge the Need for Inner Security and Trust:
Step One encourages Type 6s to acknowledge that real security doesn’t come from food or external sources, but from building trust in themselves and in a Higher Power.
- Reflection question: “How can I begin to trust that true safety comes from within, and not from trying to control my eating or other external factors?”
4. Surrender the Fear of Uncertainty:
Type 6s often fear the unknown and may use food as a way to feel in control when faced with uncertainty. Admitting powerlessness means letting go of the belief that food can provide certainty or comfort in difficult times.
- Reflection question: “How have I used food to cope with uncertainty, and how has that led to unmanageable eating habits?”
Summary:
Type 6s work Step One by admitting that their need for security and control over food has become unmanageable. By letting go of their fears and trusting in the recovery process, they can begin to find real security and balance.