I met my dear friend for brunch.

As I looked at the menu I saw bagel with salmon and cream cheese.

I love bagel with salmon and cream cheese and I hardly ever have it.

It’s one of those things I leave as a treat for restaurants.

Which means that usually, when I see it on a menu, I order it.

But I felt conflicted.

I wasn't sure I needed the bread and cream cheese...

My friend saw my conflict and said, "I'm going to give you a moment with yourself."

Bless her kind heart!

Don't you love a friend who can just give you space to figure yourself out without trying to fix or control?

She's a gift.

I took the gift and tuned in and asked my body what it wanted most from the menu.

My head wanted that bagel but I wasn’t feeling the happiness from my body.

So said, "I can choose that if I want but how will I feel after I eat that?"

I got a stodgy, clogged feeling in my gut as an answer.

Ok…

That’s not what I’d like to feel...

There was another better option on the menu but it didn't have the salmon.

"If I loved myself, I’d choose the option that would leave me feeling better."

So I did.

But I was a bit sad because I do love smoked salmon and I was giving that up.

And then... (cue dramatic angelic music and light breaking through the clouds)

I realised that in my new choice, I had the option of substituting salmon for the protein that was there!

I could give myself the choice my body preferred AND make sure I had what my mouth and head wanted.

I felt so looked after!

(Happy sigh)

It’s amazing how often it happens, that when I make the effort to meet one of my needs, I find that in meeting it, some of my other needs simply fall into place and are met too.

Try it and you'll see.

Just take it one step at a time.

If you loved yourself, what need of yours would you honour now?