Is it really sacrifice???

So I posed yesterday question to my Mom today. Asked her If you have the desire, the skill & the ability what are you lacking to accomplish the task?  She said willpower. I explained the true definition of willpower & that it is a character trait that takes training & discipline & that it is truly the willingness to do the task that stops us.  She then added a word: The willingness to sacrifice. Sacrifice your time to exercise and the food you enjoy for the food you should eat.  I thought to my self WOW sacrifice is a big word.  If we are dieting & trying to be healthy, are we sacrificing?


sac·ri·fice 

n.

1.

a. The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person.

b. A victim offered in this way.

2.

a. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

b. Something so forfeited.

The primary definition of this word is to do this as an offering.  Then even the 2nd detailed definition is to forfeit something to someone else. Then is says "something so forfeited." Well I went a step further & looked up Forfeit.

for·feit 

n.

1. Something surrendered or subject to surrender as punishment for a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract.

2. Games

a. Something placed in escrow and then redeemed after payment of a fine.

b. forfeits A game in which forfeits are demanded.

Interesting...... So I have to ask again; are we sacrificing?  Am I giving up this food for as an act of offering or I'm I giving it up to surrender as punishment?  I have to conclude that we are not truly sacrificing.  If it were a true sacrifice I would be gaining nothing in return and I will be gaining so much in losing weight & eating healthy.

This all comes down to how easy it is to talk down & make things more sound difficult than they need to be. By thinking I am sacrificing something it makes me feel as if I am losing something of great importance. And however food is very important part of survivival I should not be so depressed & feel like this is some great sacrifice. This way of thinking today has dare I say made me feel empowered? I feel that willingness is doable where I have always felt no willpower and now I know why. But I can be willing to change. Just went and search pinterest for the word Willingness & found this. :-)