Write it out specific answers to the following questions, avoiding general statements such as, “When I’m tempted I will call
someone.” Your plan will be more successful and more strategic if you were to say, “When I’m tempted, I will call Lisa at the following telephone numbers…” These answers are your plan of action
Action Plan Questions
- Have I made a personal decision to stop hurting myself?
- Have I chosen to surrender my desires to “cut” to the Lord and allow Him to help me through this process?
- Have I told at least two other people that I am going to stop hurting myself and have I asked them to hold me accountable? (I will consider them my accountability group.)
- Have I discussed with my accountability group what I need and expect from them as I walk through this journey? Are they aware of what they need to do, say, act, or hold me accountable to whenever I am being tempted?
- Have I established how often I will meet or “check in” with my support system (accountability partner[s]) during my journey?
- Have I made a decision to confess and not hide my temptations and/or sins from God and my accountability group? James 5:16 (NIV) says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
- Have I decided to seek out help before being tempted while I still have strength, not waiting until the midst of a struggle?
- Clean House: Have I collected all of my “cutting” objects and disposed of them myself, or have I given them to my accountability support system?
- Have I built or started working on building a solid emotional support system of friends, family, and/or professionals that I can go to if I feel like hurting myself?
- Do I have at least two people in my life that I can call or visit if I ever want to hurt myself? Do I have their home and cell phone numbers handy?
- Have I put together a list of at least ten things I can do to wait out the wave of temptation instead of hurting myself?
- Do I have a list of places to go if I need to leave my house in order to not hurt myself?
- Have I thought of not putting myself in situations that will cause me to be tempted to cut? If so, what are my boundaries?
- Am I committed to being honest and open about my feelings with my accountability group, not withholding the truth from them?
- As an exercise to work on expressing my feelings, will I journal (at least twice a week) about how I “feel” and whether that “feeling” helped or tempted me to hurt myself? Will I practice sharing my “feelings” with my support system?
- Am I willing to feel uncomfortable, frustrated, and angry, but approach these challenges with God’s Word and accept His Truth? (See “Who I am in Christ” Scripture list)
- Have I made a decision to not give up but to persevere no matter how tough it may get, because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)?
- Have I committed to not call myself bad names or label myself with negative thoughts, especially when I make mistakes? Instead, I will confess, declare, and accept the truth of God found in His Word. (Use “Who I am in Christ” Scripture list.)
- Do I commit to declare and accept my FREEDOM in Christ, no matter how long it takes me to walk in it? Will I make a decision to be patient with myself, as Christ is patient with me?
- Will I devote some time to take care of myself, enjoy walks, practice favorite hobbies, listen to music, read Christian books, journal, etc., as I need it to relax?
- Have I accepted the fact that I am not perfect, but I am being changed through Christ (Philippians 3:12)?
- Have I committed to acknowledge God as my supreme help every day through prayer, Bible reading, scripture meditation and memorization, worship, and/or devotional readings?
How to Help
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