Yes, learning. Loving yourself is a learning process. We receive lessons without realizing it from a very young age that either contribute or take away from our healthy self love. Last night I watched my mentor Dr. Christiane Northrup on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday and she reminded me why I love her so. She shared her wisdom of how our minds, bodies and spirits relate to our environment to create health. Her words brought new awareness of how I got caught in self-punishment and shame from a young age. She told Oprah that when young children are abused, they take on (absorb) the shame that the abuser should have had. They live with this shame and make judgments about their self-worth. Oprah, like me, has experienced sexual trauma at a very young age, and I could detect a glimmer of raw emotion and "aha" behind her eyes that I too felt.
Well how noble of us to take on that responsibility and shame for our abusers! Unfortunately, continuing with this pattern of accommodating others, unaware of the programming, ultimately led to my collapse when the stress reached a fever pitch. Working myself out of the depression, trauma symptoms, nightmares, disordered eating, post-college financial crisis, and self-punishment was a difficult but rewarding journey. Inspired by Dr. Northrup and other mind-body health trailblazers almost 15 years ago, I went beyond traditional therapy to use optimal nutrition and other self-love/self-care practices such as yoga and meditation to honor my body, treat it as an ally, listen to it's wisdom. In the process I became aware of my unique gifts and purpose here on Earth to help others transcend their difficult circumstances to experience wholeness, peace, joy, and love. I wasted years thinking I was damaged goods and not deserving of (fill in the blank) but now I live a life full of joy, possibility, purpose, spirituality, "magical coincidences", optimism, love and gratitude. You can read more about my story in my first co-authored book Dare to Be Authentic, Vol 2: Learning To Love Yourself, available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dare-Authentic-Vol-Learning-Yourself/dp/1478191937
Or sign up for my newsletter to be informed about local book signings by myself and my fellow authors in your area! I'd love to meet you in person!
Well how noble of us to take on that responsibility and shame for our abusers! Unfortunately, continuing with this pattern of accommodating others, unaware of the programming, ultimately led to my collapse when the stress reached a fever pitch. Working myself out of the depression, trauma symptoms, nightmares, disordered eating, post-college financial crisis, and self-punishment was a difficult but rewarding journey. Inspired by Dr. Northrup and other mind-body health trailblazers almost 15 years ago, I went beyond traditional therapy to use optimal nutrition and other self-love/self-care practices such as yoga and meditation to honor my body, treat it as an ally, listen to it's wisdom. In the process I became aware of my unique gifts and purpose here on Earth to help others transcend their difficult circumstances to experience wholeness, peace, joy, and love. I wasted years thinking I was damaged goods and not deserving of (fill in the blank) but now I live a life full of joy, possibility, purpose, spirituality, "magical coincidences", optimism, love and gratitude. You can read more about my story in my first co-authored book Dare to Be Authentic, Vol 2: Learning To Love Yourself, available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dare-Authentic-Vol-Learning-Yourself/dp/1478191937
Or sign up for my newsletter to be informed about local book signings by myself and my fellow authors in your area! I'd love to meet you in person!
