So last week, I shared some ways that you can improve the way you relate to the world by improving your relationship with yourself. Improving from the inside out.
This week, we build on that concept and find ways that your improved relationship with yourself can support you in building amazing relationships.
Think about it: you are a gift. Period. You are a gift to the world. Your authentic being is a gift to the human race.
People want you in their lives. People want to be with your authentic self.
This is something I haven’t always believed about myself. I haven’t always believed that people wanted me in their lives. And I haven’t always been comfortable with my authentic self.
In other words, I haven’t always had a great relationship with myself.
My coach training team with Accomplishment Coaching is a family. In the six months we’ve been together, we’ve grown tighter. Our bonds have grown stronger. And the love we have for each other is simply beautiful to me.
Who I was in February when the program started is different from who I am now. Granted, I had been doing a lot of work on myself before then; two years of coaching plus three years of therapy. But this program has taken that work and turned it up to eleven.
I kind of felt like I was an outsider. I flew in from Alabama (and my arms were really tired. #rimshot.) I figured most of the team was local. Or at least from nearby.
And to be honest, I think everyone had their guards up. God knows I did.
I made tertiary connections with a couple people on the first day. But I think on the second day was when I started to realize just how much my relationship with myself had started to improve.
I had some judgments about Emily when I first met her. When she introduced herself to the group, she talked about being an empath, magic, and a lot of light and airy stuff I didn’t understand. I thought it was a little kooky.
Gotta say, my first impression was this: this chick is a little out there. A little weird.
I mean, she IS a little out there. She is most certainly a little weird.
We had lunch together on the second day of the program. And I knew during our conversation that there was deep connection. We got each other pretty much immediately.
And she’s helped me to see parts of myself and my being that I denied for so long. For that I am forever grateful to her. And, not to brag, I believe my presence in her life has benefited her greatly.
Here’s my point in sharing this: I don’t think I would have befriended someone like her if I hadn’t improved my relationship with myself as I had. While I did have some judgments about Emily, I sensed on an intuitive level that there was a connection.
And as my relationship with myself has gotten better, my friendship with Emily has grown deeper. And while I have deep friendships with many on the team (and my plan is for that to grow to the entire team) I consider her my best friend on the team.
And she’s still kind of crazy. But she’s my kind of crazy.
I could cite numerous examples of relationships like this in my life. Examples of how loving and appreciating myself can transform my relationship with the world.
Take a moment and review some of your relationships you’ve had. And if and how the connection may have dissolved.
Go ahead…I’ll wait.
Still there?
In those relationships, consider how they could’ve improved with a little more love for yourself. Just a little bit. Maybe 5% more love for yourself.
It’s doable. You know why it’s doable? Because I did it.
Consider this: if you don’t love yourself, how will you be able to love anyone else fully and unconditionally?
That’s a harsh question, I get it. But as I mentioned last week, loving others means loving yourself first.
The kind of friendships and relationships that I’m cultivating are available to you. It’s more than possible. It’s going to take some work. But believe me when I say this, if you’re willing to put in the work, then the end results will be beautiful.
If you’d like some support in shifting the way you relate to the world, I can be that support. That’s the core principle of who a life coach is.
Find me at team-ryan.team or email at [email protected].
Next week we’re going take a look at one of my favorite coaching topics. We’re going to talk about how to own your personal power.
Photo by asenat29