Reason #4: Happy Valentine's Day! Are You Emotionally Healthy?

Peggie Kirkland  0:04  
Welcome to the Momma's Motivational Messages podcast, where women learn to stop putting themselves on the back-burner, and start paying attention to caring for themselves first, so they can be better for everyone else in their lives. I know you'll be inspired by the stories of resiliency and starting over of health and self-healing, of gaining clarity through journaling, of showing self-love through world travel, and the list goes on. I encourage you to relax and enjoy. I'm your host, Peggie Kirkland, PK. 

Peggie Kirkland  0:46  
Hi, everyone. Well, the long-awaited  day is here, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. Whether you're celebrating with a loving partner, your girlfriend's your family, or even alone, I'd like you to take some time to focus on your emotional health, which is one aspect of mental health. But emotional health deserves its own bucket, because your emotions impact so many aspects of your overall wellness. So paying attention to your emotional health, is reason number four, why I think Cupid should really be working harder today. 

Peggie Kirkland  1:35  
This is a day when many of you are going to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, depending on the outcome of the day. Some of you are going to be ecstatic when you receive roses, chocolates, jewelry, invitations to dinner and other delightful things. And some of you may experience possible depression, because you came up empty-handed. I have two things to say about that. One, it's not too late to treat yourselves to flowers, or jewelry or chocolate or a nice dinner and two pay attention to your emotional health. 

Peggie Kirkland  2:21  
Let me tell you why I think emotional health plays a major role on Valentine's Day. It's because the day creates a lot of stress around finding the perfect gift for that special someone in your life while you anticipate what that special someone will get you. And then for those who don't have a special someone, or whose special someone does not believe in recognizing the day, it can create a feeling of stress, anxiety, depression, feelings of thinking you're not worthy of love, and other feelings of worthlessness. So if we put aside the societal pressures of having a lover for Valentine's Day, and we look at what the joy of the day is, I would say it's that feeling of connection that you can have with anyone, your children, your friends, other family members, people in your community who support you, your church, family, and others.

Peggie Kirkland  3:33  
 In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection. Brene Brown, an author whom I  love defines connection, as "The energy that exists between people, when they feel seen, heard and valued, when they can give and receive without judgment, and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." In fact, Brene says we're hardwired for connection. She says that from the time we're born, we need connection to thrive emotionally, physically, spiritually, and intellectually. 

Peggie Kirkland  4:16  
So don't think of today, just as a day for lovers. Think of it as a day of connections that can extend throughout this month of love and beyond. But start with yourself. Connect with yourself by asking, Who do I feel connected to? And just be sure to reach out to that person or those persons today. You don't have to wait for them to make the first move. You can also check in with yourself to see if you're emotionally healthy. Ask yourself, "Am I feeling emotionally healthy?" Someone who is emotionally healthy is able to cope with both positive and negative emotions, and they also know when to reach out for help. That's coming from Dr. Dan Brennan in a medically reviewed article linked in the Show Notes. Dr. Brennan also provides some clues to help you think about whether you're struggling with your emotional health. And here are those clues:

Peggie Kirkland  5:25  
Are you isolating yourself from friends, family or coworkers? Are you sleeping too much or too little? Do you have an increased use of substances? Do you have feelings of irritability, guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness? Are you neglecting your hygiene and personal care? 

Peggie Kirkland  5:49  
If you have any questions about your emotional wellness, then you should seek professional help. And while you're reflecting on these clues, practice using affirmations to keep you positive and uplifted. Just click the link and you can grab your FREE Affirmation ecards to shift your mindset raise your self-esteem and boost your self- confidence. Choose one or two affirmations that resonate with you and make a habit of repeating them several times throughout the day, especially when you wake up in the morning and at night before you go to bed. As you use them, observe the effect they have on you. Do they make you feel more loving towards yourself and more confident? Do they increase your belief in your abilities? Do they make it easier for you to take life in stride? Try to be aware of how your mind and body react to your practice of repeating affirmations. Be consistent with this practice. And you'll see the difference over time. So don't forget to grab your FREE Affirmation ecards. Just click the link in the Show Notes. And don't forget also you can connect with me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, linked in the Show Notes. I wish you all a day of love and connections.

Peggie Kirkland  7:27  
If you've been inspired and encouraged by the positive messages in today's show, please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple podcast. This will help to keep the show alive. And remember, sharing is caring. So don't forget to share these gems with friends and family strangers too if you like.  Let them know it's available wherever they listen to their podcasts.  I'm counting on you to share the love. Until next time. This is PK sending you much light and a whole lot of love.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai