I just returned from a fabulous vacation to Italy and Greece and it was one of the best family vacations of my life. (pics below) Yet, as many amazing things do, it came with its share of surprises!
This year it was my body that decided to surprise me!
At the last minute, my knee and hip seized up the DAY before we were to fly out and I was in severe pain. My chiropractor was not available and my friend who is a massage therapist came to help me. Even with this help, I hobbled my way through the first quarter of the vacation. It hurt to even put weight on my right leg.
The Importance of Self-Love in Personal Development
In my ultimate knowing that there is a solution to every problem, by day 3 I was unable to “yoga” my way out of it and I found a great chiropractor in Florence, Italy who saved the day! I was then able to walk with much more movement and less pain the rest of the trip.
However, I wasn’t totally free of this body challenge when arriving home. Getting back to work and in the groove of exercising was daunting. I wasn’t sure how to navigate my “normal workout routine” as my hip and leg were not “normal” and I was confused and scared.
What if I do too much and it seizes up again? What if I don’t do enough and it gets worse? So many unknowns. Such is life, I figured, however, I wanted to know HOW to move forward.
Besides the practical advice of setting up an appointment with a Physical Therapist, I decided to do a deeper dive into my feelings around my body stuff and see what they had to teach me.
Exploring My Emotions
As I went into the feelings, the fear, uncertainty, confusion, I realized there was a part of me that was operating in a “survival pattern” (SP)…… (if you don’t know what your survival patterns are read my free ebook and start finding out) Hint: A survival pattern is often where we disconnect from the love, wisdom, peace, trust, joy, strength, courage, confidence, etc.
My Survival pattern sounded like this. You should do this. This was your fault. If you hadn’t done XYZ, you wouldn’t be in this shape. You’ve got to find the “right” way to move forward. If you don’t you will mess it up and be in pain again.
This black and white, perfectionistic, right and wrong thinking had me in a fear and shame pickle. It was fueling confusion and stress in my system. It wasn’t the solution I needed.
Breaking Free from Survival Patterns
The AH-HA then came to me from my Inner Counselor!.….the answer was SELF-LOVE… (isn’t it always some form of love?). I remembered what I used to teach at the treatment centers I worked at years ago. Embodying the self-love cycle and releasing the perfectionism, right and wrong, black and white and shoulds IS the answer to recovery.
It’s the answer to most all healing. When we are in the energy of our higher nature, we make more loving decisions for ourselves and others.
So how does this self-love cycle sound and feel?
I felt the softening of the energy of fear as love came into my body.
It said kind and empowering things and felt expansive and lighter in the cells of my leg and hip where there was tension.
I sensed the wisdom that came with it….You don’t have to control everything. (I got a laugh out of this one<:). You have support. You didn’t do anything wrong. Your intentions were good. Sometimes s*** just happens.
And I got what I needed about moving forward with my exercise program….The self-love energy from my Inner Counselor said…..
The Power of Self-Love
What does your body WANT to do? How does it feel in your body when you do certain activities? Get curious and experience each moment by tuning into your body instead of attaching to a story about it.
I felt the FREEDOM AND LOVE.
HINT: That’s when you know you are in tune with your Higher Nature (AKA: Inner Counselor)
What a relief, I thought. I know HOW to move forward.
When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.
So instead of trying to “think, guard or protect my way out of this seeming dilemma”, I was more open and in the flow of the loving, supportive abundance around me.
And wouldn’t you know it, after I got up out of my chair, I looked down and there was some mail with an invite to a free Physical Therapy appointment along with a free massage gun paid for by my insurance lying right in front of me!
A Call to Action: Embrace the Journey of Self-Love
It was there all along but I had not even tuned into it until now.
When we embody the self-love, love-wisdom cycle, things come with more ease.
We access the flow state. WE change our relationship to what is and “what is” changes.
Is there something you or your clients are struggling with that needs or wants more LOVE? Not from a mental space, but from a whole body transformation?
If so, join us in an upcoming free training and find out how this is done!
Let’s celebrate transformation, love, and wisdom together, and take a moment to relish in those vacation memories!
With love and support,
Dr. Shannon
