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I think the easiest way is to look inside and find what you're grateful for. And sometimes it's a thing that you don't notice. So sometimes. Now this is one little excerpt is find people you trust and you love. Like, what is it that's something great about me that you look up to, right? And it's got to be people that are honestly coming from that space that you know they're being sincere and you can actually sit back and think to that stuff. Like a lot of people have told me I have a really great way of just being positive. People want to be cheered up. They call me.
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Christine Clark Skalka is a dedicated, strategic and market savvy real estate professional and the driving force behind her eponymous brand, Christine Jane Clark. Armed with a deep understanding of the housing market, she helps individuals and families seamlessly navigate the buying and selling process, empowering them to build a foundation of long term stability, community connection and generational wealth.
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A
I believe that we all came from the essence of love, but through the situations of life that we are raised in and the environment we're in, all of a sudden we start to question our value. Are we enough? Are we good enough? We're not just one person. We're not just, not just a business owner, you know, we're not just a woman. I'm going to be a wife. I'm a mother, I'm a friend. It goes on and expands on and on. And that's what love is all about. It incorporates in every ensues in every portion of life that you have.
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What is something that someone will learn from your full episode that they've maybe not heard about in this podcast.
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I think the biggest thing takeaway is you.
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It spans the globe like a super highest cold Internet Elvis Presley. Today Apple is going to reinvent length.
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A
It's not over until I win the
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B
Living your Legacy podcast.
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A
For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary.
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B
The impossible has. Oh, that is sensational.
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Jordan Open Chicago
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is the fastest man on the planet.
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You can live your dream.
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B
Hello and welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers. Joining me today is Christine and she has been on a journey from pageants to bodybuilding to becoming an entrepreneur, real estate. And now a whole new mission where she's a speaker podcaster, writing a book really to help people with, you know that love is the answer. And I'm going to leave it open there and let her explain that. So welcome to the show.
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A
Thank you so much, Rudy.
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B
So talk to us about this new. You know, it's very different to grunting and doing weights and deadlifting and bodybuilding. And now, you know, you've kind of gone into this new venture and it's, you know, about love and all these great things we were talking about offline. So can you explain this new mission and venture?
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A
Yeah, it's quite a difference. You know, when you go to weightlift, right, Bodybuilding, you know what you have to do, like so many reps, so many weight up, your weight, if you want to get bulk up, you know, what do you need to eat? All these things, right? And it comes to more of a journey of loving yourself. And it's a totally different aspect. There's not a checklist of what to do or which order to do it, but it's an awakening of opening inside and saying, what is it that I'm missing inside that I'm feeling this emptiness? And it's something that's missing here that only you can give. You can't get it validated from the
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B
outside world when it's also the opposite. Bodybuilding is very visual, right. It's on the outside how you look in the mirror and, you know, whereas this is hard to contextualize. Right. A monitor and you can't see it necessarily. Correct. So what got you into this new venture?
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A
I think it's just my whole life there's been a path inside of me that's always been calling me for something bigger. I wouldn't say more, but bigger in the way is helping other people more than just myself. Right? It's like bodybuilding, when you were saying it's easy to go on stage. Well, it's not easy. Let's say that right now it's not easy to go on stage. That bikini is the itty bittiest stringy thing that you're gonna ever probably wear. Well, I'm gonna wear. So to put that on stage in front of everyone is so vulnerable. But the fact is that when you get done, like you were talking about, you get that accolade, you get people looking at you, you get judged on it. But when you get done, you don't look like that anymore. Then you really question, who am I? Because I don't look like that stage fit person anymore. Like, oh my gosh, I drank too much water and I had some salt. Now I look like I'm pregnant and I'm not. Right? So I think this, the message I have is that the love has to come from inside. Because if you knew who you were, you'd understand. Oh, this is part of the body, this is how it's responding, but this is what the process is. It doesn't make me less of a person. It doesn't make me less fit just because I'm going back into drinking more water. That is good for your body. So my discovery here is waking up inside and saying, I am loved. And I think that is actually the essence of who we all are. And once we acknowledge that and see it within ourself, it's easy to radiate that to others and it comes back this contagious. Is that the way I want it?
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B
So you're really like, when I piece this together, it's, you know, for the audience, it's kind of. You're really helping people with many aspects of psychology, self esteem. Right. And I think that's so missing in society right now. Like, I meet so many people and they actually, even successful people, they look really great from the outside, much like bodybuilding. And it's very common in the bodybuilding world. Like, I came from that world too, you know, and most people in that world actually are super insecure. That's why they get into it, which is really ironic. And I actually see the same in business. Some successful people, I get to know them and you can pick up these patterns that are actually really insecure. And that's why they do all the showing off on the business side. The jets and the yachts and the blah, blah, blah. So it's, I think, very much needed. But why did you now get into this? What's the story behind that?
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A
Well, the truth is I'm 50 years old and I only have this one life to live. So what's the message I want to leave with everybody? It's not that I've won a crown, it's not that I've won the pro card. I will say one of my greatest accomplishments is being a mom. I have four kids, right. And that greatest trophy ever right there. But the fact is, when I leave, I want the legacy of people to realize that by being who I am and being authentic and then being authentic, like, no more doing what everybody else expects you to do. And I think sometimes that's the thing that wakes people up too, is when something feels off and doesn't feel right just because other people are saying, like the acknowledgement, you know, I understand the acknowledgement of saying, like you said, people that are successful in business and all of a sudden you see their true life and it's like, whoa, I'm not quite as strength there. When you look inside yourself and you find out that that's just kind of an empty reward. And you look outside and you say, you know, I'm valuable and I am enough and I am loved and I am the essence of love. It just changes things. You look at things a little bit different, a little more upbeat, you know, going through a lot of different changes in my life. You know, everybody has a story, right? It was like when I was a child, this happened and then you grow up and these become who you are. Those are the stories we've lived. But how can we change those around to empower us and to see the love that was actually in the essence of everything that was there. And that when you own that within yourself, it's easy to share that with other people.
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B
Well, and it's funny, you brought up one thing there about, you know, when you were a child. Whereas the more I've dived into and got to meet, you know, a lot of great people sat in this chair around, you know, self esteem and psychology and mental health. Most of it actually roots from childhood. You know, it made me realize I had very lucky good childhood because I don't necessarily have a lot of these self esteem problems and problems that a lot of people suffer with for a very long time. So I want to ask you if someone's listening and they are maybe successful on the outside, whether they have a six pack or $600,000 in the bank account, either or both. But they do struggle with a self esteem sign. They don't maybe love themselves. How do they work to fix that?
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A
I think the easiest way is to look inside and find what you're grateful for. And sometimes it's a thing that you don't notice. So sometimes. Now this is one little excerpt is find people that you trust and you love. Like what is it that's something great about me that you look up to. Right. And it's got to be people that are honestly coming from that space that you know, they're being sincere and you can actually sit back and think to that stuff. Like a lot of people have told me I have a really great way of just being positive. People want to be cheered up. They call me. I didn't realize that was a gift, right? So some of us have this gift inside that other people don't see. Like, hey, what is my gift that you see? And if they start to see it, then start acknowledging it inside, like, oh my gosh. And find the greatness for it. Like, I am so happy and grateful that I am able to look at something and as terrible as it's been, being able to flip it around and see something positive out of that situation. So I think that's the thing that would be important for people to see.
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B
Well, I like that because I think it is important to look from a different lens. Right? So even in business, you know, you're often in your own business. That's why you bring in consultants, because you're so in the weeds you can't see from the 30,000 foot view. And I think it's the same in this context of like, you see yourself a certain way and often something you're great at, you assume it's normal or everyone's great at, so you're like, whatever, that's just normal. Whereas actually someone else might be like, no, you know, I love you for that. And no one else is like that. And that's what makes you cool and special. And yeah, that's maybe a great way to say, start to hear that enough times that you kind of think, okay, that's my thing. Or that's one thing that's great about me. And then a segment you brought up with the grateful side is. And I try and remind people of this and always myself too, like, contextually, most of us, in at least America, we still do have a pretty great life. Even, like, you know, I always try and remember if I get down or it's like there's a lot of people starving and dying in war zones around the world. So I think that contextual side is so important to stay, like, rooted to what's great for you in your life because it's always easy to figure out what's going wrong. Even the billionaires have a lot of things going wrong, right? Or whoever. Right. The someone that wins an Oscar or the rock, you know, they have things going wrong, but they have a lot of great things too.
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A
Correct, Correct. And I think also when you keep focusing on that great thing, you just see more. Right? It becomes like a magnet. Just like negativity. People can sit around, I mean, how many? For me, being a woman and having children, it's crazy how you can talk about your birth story and everybody has a worse birth story than you.
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B
Oh, interesting.
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A
It's like, oh, yeah. But for me, I was in labor for 24 hours.
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B
I don't have one of those. Just so you know.
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A
Well, that's what I'm saying for women, right? Something. But everybody has like, something worse. So all of a sudden you start in that path of like, negativity, right? Like, oh, I had a bad life. Well, what about this? And mine was worse. It's like, flip it. Like, my life is so great. Like, I get up every day, I have clean water. You know, I even thought that today I'm staying in this hotel, I got up and the water is cold. And I don't like cold water. I like a hot, hot shower. Right. And I'm going, oh, my gosh. Okay, Christine, be grateful it's clean. It's at least clean water. Let's go.
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B
It's all perception, right? Because someone would just love to have a roof over their head and. Or water in general, right? Africa or wherever. So, yeah, I think it's so, you know, the first world problem jokes, right. It's really a thing. And I do think it's, you know, obviously you should optimize your life, and as you get more successful, those you should always keep optimizing it to get to what you have, this perfect environment. So that stuff's important. But the flip side is. Yeah. Not letting it affect your whole day, which I think is what a lot of people do.
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A
Correct. They do. They do. You know, you spoke about, like, first world problems. I work with a home builder. You know, do you know how many people come in and be grateful for the house? And I'll have people that will nitpick every little detail. And it's fun to sit back and go, okay, this is a third world problem. It's, you know, this is a first world problem that nobody else in a third world problem would even see.
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B
Yeah.
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A
So I totally agree with you on that.
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B
So let's talk about the book and the podcast and speaking. What are some of the topics and things you're doing there?
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A
Well, in Brave Enough to Love, Again, it's about the journey of discovering who you are. Because I believe that we all came from the essence of love, but through the situations of life that we are raised in and the environment we're in, all of a sudden we start to question our value. Are we enough? Are we good enough? You know, a lot of people don't have that self esteem, which I'm so glad that you were taught in a way that it sounds like you had a great childhood, you know, and I think that's amazing. And so I think people, if they can remember the. The amazingness they are and that the essence of who they are is love. That's what the book's about. But also the tagline on it is Confessions of a Healing Heart. Because there's always some part of you that has felt hurt or betrayed and you gotta go inside and fix that and find the love for yourself, even going through those situations. And sometimes we think things are healed and they'll show up again for you and. And you'll see it and go, well, I thought I had this all healed. I had it fixed. But let me go back into it and love myself and see what it is.
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B
Well, there's triggers, right? Just like if a war veteran has ptsd, they can get over most of it, but if there's a bang, you know, that might trigger them a bit, and then it's the coping mechanisms to work through that. But. And let me ask you, if someone's wondering, because I wondered this too, when I first met you, how much is it about, like, love, relationship, love, anything to do with it? Is there an intertwine?
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A
How so great you asked that. Because I'm getting married this sum. And I was married for almost three years. Got divorced, getting remarried. Someone different, not the same guy. And my daughter, when I told her the name of the book, she's 18. She said, Mom, I really don't want to hear about you and Jeff's relationship. Come on. And I said, no, honey, this is about you learning to love you yourself. Yeah, yeah. But also when I learned to love me, then I found this great love of my life as well. So. Right. It becomes this magnet that all of a sudden, things will show up. I even opened up me opening up about, I actually met my birth dad. I had never met in 50 years. I heard about him. So all of a sudden that became a healing process that I didn't know I needed that. Him just typing the simple words, I love you, even though I'd never met him before. I started crying, like, whoa, what was that? I had no idea that trigger was gonna get me that way. I thought I was fine. I didn't need a dad. I'm 50. I'm a grown woman, you know, with kids of my own. So I think that's the amazing thing is love is the essence of who we are. And so that's what the book is about.
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B
But it applies in relationships, finding your own love. Yeah, yeah. And then a business. Right. And then friendships and pretty much everything. You know, that's what life's all about, right? Yeah.
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A
Right.
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B
So. So how. Just for. I understand, but for everyone listening, how does it connect all those big elements of life?
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A
Because I think it's all. All incorporates who you are. Right. We're not just one person. We're not just. You're not just a business owner.
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B
Yeah.
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A
You know, we're not just a woman. I'm going to be a wife. I'm a mother, I'm a friend. I'm. It goes on and expands on and on, and that's what love is all about. It incorporates in every. Ensues in every portion of life that you have. So if the essence of who you are is love, it is the groundbreaking. It's kind of like the soil gets the water right. It's the water that comes to the soil that helps grow the plant.
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B
Well, I mean, it's also fundamental for success in all those areas because, I mean, if you don't have that internally, you're always chasing the next thing and you're empty. Yeah, yeah. You're chasing the next million dollars or the next. Winning the race or the bodybuilding contest. If it's health and fitness or in relationships, I mean, the stereotypical one is you're chasing love off someone else because you don't have it internally. Right.
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A
And that's just the empty calories. Right. Because you're. It's like eating a Twinkie that has no nutritional value. You eat it and you're like, okay, I got here and now I don't feel like I thought I was going to feel. And that's because you didn't fix it inside.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Give it to yourself first.
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B
Good. So just as we wrap up, you know, something you said earlier stuck with me. And it's the reason you're on this show. And part of this show and everyone sat there is you woke up one day and realized, well, you know, maybe bodybuilding isn't my future. Right. Or what I want to be remembered for my relationship.
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A
Yeah. I didn't want to eat chicken and rice the rest of my life.
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B
So, like, let's talk the legacy side. It seems to be like, this is. You found the thing that you really want to be remembered for and spread around the world and empower people with. Is that. Is that the case?
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A
That is the case. So it starts at home, I think. Exactly. With my children. Right. Watching me learning how to love myself and to teach them that. But then I want to expand it on. On out.
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B
Yeah. Well. And I think, you know, the kids. Things. Interesting. I don't have kids, like, and I've always wanted kids a little later because I wanted to mature and get my businesses good. And I'm glad I have, because in the last five years or so, as I've really developed as a person, I think I've realized. And again, I'm not a parent, so I'M not an expert, but probably the most powerful thing you can give your kids is self esteem. Like, if you can give them that, then they'll probably be okay in every aspect of life.
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A
And I have a really strong feeling you're going to be amazing father when the time comes, Rudy.
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B
Yeah, good. Hope so.
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A
Yeah, you would.
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B
And just, you know, talking about the legacy side, what is something that someone will learn from your full episode that they've maybe not heard about in this podcast?
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A
I think the biggest thing takeaway is you are the essence of love. Embrace that, honor it, see it, appreciate it. Because when you appreciate it, it will grow.
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B
Great. And last question. If someone's really kind of listening in and they're fascinated by this and this whole concept, and maybe they're going, oh, I need to get on this. Right. I know that's maybe a weakness of mine, a lingering weakness I've had because many people carry this for years, from what I understand. And people I meet. Right. Where do they start with you? Like, where's the best place? How do they find you?
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A
Find me on my podcast.
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B
Okay, what's the. Just let's go through that.
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A
Where's the podcast It's Brave Enough to Love again.
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B
Yep.
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A
And that's the podcast, so tune in
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B
and social media anywhere. Good to find you there. And one more time with the book that's coming up.
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A
The book is Brave Enough to Love Again because Confessions of a Healing Heart.
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B
There we go. All right, guys, well, that's a wrap. Hopefully you enjoyed today's episode. Obviously, go check out the full episode and. And the story and everything else behind it that we didn't cover today. And as always, keep working hard, have an impact and build a legacy. I'll see you soon. Take care.