Did he really just ask me that?

I was at the Doctor the other day getting the results of my bloodwork for my regular check up.  Which by the way, according to the Doctor, “Your bloodwork is perfect.  Whatever your doing keep doing.”  Sweet.  Then he asked me about my support system-“Do you have a support system of at least 3 people you can talk to?” Actually I am blessed with an amazing support system of more than 3 people.  I’m acing this!  Blood work-check, support system-check.  Then he asks “How do you express your emotions? Do you hold them in or let them out?”  Honestly kind of depends what the situation is.  This Italian Jersey Girl can let it out when necessary but when you have a child with some health conditions sometimes it feels necessary to keep it all in.  Hmm…so I don’t think that was the best answer.  Then he goes in for the kill-“Do you love yourself?”  “Well, what do you mean?  Do I like myself?  Most of the times.  I’ve learned to appreciate the good and the bad of who I am if that is what you mean”.  “No, I mean do you love yourself regardless” the Doctor states.   What kind of question is that?  Do I love me?  Am I supposed to? Am I allowed to? Is it selfish too? Then I took all the work I have been doing and put it into place to answer his question. Did I ace it? Not necessarily, but I did give a good, honest answer.

You see this didn’t come easy to me.  As an empathizer I’m really good at worrying about others and putting their needs first-often at the expense of mine. Where I’m at now didn’t just happen when I began my Health Coach Certification but long before that.  Years before when I wanted to be the best wife, mom, and person I could be.  It was back when I began working with a phenomenal holistic Doctor for a couple of other health conditions that it became apparent that I needed to work on my relationship with myself.  I had no problem loving others and building them to their potential.  However, I was quick to be critical and almost degrading to myself.  This is where I was blessed to come face to face with the fact that I had some work to do on my relationship with myself.  That if I wanted to grow as a person I need to love me, all of me.  That included the parts I found awesome and the ones that drove me crazy.  It didn’t happen overnight. I’m still quite critical of myself but I am also so much more in tune with myself and accepting of whom I’ve become.  You see because I have learned although I am not perfect, I am pretty amazing-the good, the quirky and everything else that makes me who I am.

Most of us go through exactly what I went through at that moment when faced with the question “Do you love yourself?”  So many of us haven’t been taught how to move forward.  We are taught it is selfish to put ourselves before others and equate loving ourselves to be selfish as well.  What does it mean to love yourself?  So I googled “loving yourself” just to see what I would find.  “About 397,000,000 results” popped up!  To say this is an important, often researched and written about topic would be an understatement.  As I looked through several, but definitely not all, articles I found some familiar items such as:

1. Spend a few moments each day connecting to you.
2. Forgive yourself.
3. Accept where you are right now.
4. Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are.
5. Practice sharing and expressing the love you want to receive.

For this next month Sunshine Transformations will be exploring and sharing what it means to love yourself.  Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn ways to deepen your relationship with yourself.  For today you can begin by journaling your answer to a few questions?

• How do you show love to yourself right now?
• What do you need to work on?
• What is one thing you can do today to love yourself a little bit more?

If you are ready to take the next step to loving yourself by making your health a priority go to SunshineTransformations.com.  I’m offering 25% off on your Health Journey Consultation by entering the code Sunshine19.  Go to the services page, click on Health Journey Consultation and begin showing yourself some love.

“You owe yourself the love you so freely give to other people.”

Helping you shine bright,

Brandee

Xoxoxo

Brandee Thunberg is a personal wellness assistant that has been married to her best friend for over 20 years, has two awesome boys, is an artist, an educator, an avid outdoor enthusiast that LOVES helping you become the best You.