Practice Self-Love This Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day, and no matter what your status: single, married, dating, philanderer…the pressure to be a part of a couple in a picture perfect loving relationship is real. And even if you do bury your head in the sand, or have a “dark day” thoughts of self-loathing may spiral if you do not have exactly the type of relationship with another human that you think you should.
Maybe that date from Friday night ghosted you, or perhaps your husband left town two weeks ago, and even friends have been out of touch or unresponsive. It’s just you again…alone. But is being alone really so bad? The paradox is that even if we are in a relationship, we may still feel lonely.
Perhaps loving ourselves is the answer to everything. It is the cure for loneliness, for depression, and crippling anxiety. You see, if we love ourselves, we take our power back with our sense of compassion for ourselves. We are no longer at the mercy of an equally loved and feared Hallmark holiday. We are simply free to be who we are, and to love ourselves the way we are, unconditionally. No one else will do this for us.
Am I suggesting that true love between people doesn’t exist? No. And yet, perhaps the deeper question is that it depends on where the source of love is coming from. Because if we expect another person to fulfill a sense of love that we don’t even have for ourselves, we are gravely disillusioned.
Practicing self-love doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t require splurging excessive funds on clothing or haircuts and treating ourselves to spa days or nights on the town. In fact, those things may detract from the feeling of love for ourselves, since they are focused solely on material possessions or experiences that bring external happiness.
True self-love practice is internal. It consists of actively and diligently reminding yourself that you are worthy and lovable, setting healthy boundaries for yourself, honoring your own needs, and engaging in satisfying activities that are rewarding and stimulate your sense of passion for life.
Do these things involve other people? Maybe. But the self-love and compassion is focused so deep within, that other people become an asset to this rather than a core component. It helps us to realize that rather than looking for that “missing piece” outside of ourselves, we must first look within.
Begin your self-love practice today. Tell yourself that you are worthy and deserving of all life has to offer, just for you and you alone. And no matter what your Valentine’s plans, you will never be disappointed if you can fully count on yourself.
