Valentine’s Day is all about love; such as celebrating those you love or the person you’re in a relationship with. It’s also a good opportunity to think about how we love ourselves. So here’s some tips to engage with what you love about yourself this Valentine’s:
💖 Grounding yourself. ‘Grounding’ refers to being fully present in the moment. It is helpful in situations when we’re feeling overwhelmed but also when we’re in a space of wanting to focus on the here and now. Some ideas for grounding yourself could include focusing on your breathing properly (breathing in for 4 counts and out for 6 for example), going for a walk and consciously experiencing the nature around you, noticing what’s in the room with you such as five things you can see. It’s important that a grounding exercise is personal to you, so give it a go and see what works for you to keep you in the moment!
💖 Gratitude. Try writing down all that you are grateful for about yourself. Whether it’s something you’re grateful for about your body, your personality or the things you’ve created. Gratitude is a wonderful way of helping us to focus on the positives and love ourselves more.
💖 Mantras. It might seem a bit weird to suggest saying a phrase to yourself over and over, but having a ‘mantra’ can be a powerful way of reminding ourselves of a positive truth and fighting negative thoughts about ourselves. In the movie The Help, there is an example of one of these: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important”. What is something empowering and helpful you could say to yourself today?
💖 Spending time with those who validate you. Whether it’s a pet, a parent or a partner, spending time around those who help us to feel good about ourselves is a critical part of self-love.
💖 Doing something that makes you feel strong. The word strong makes me think of being empowered and resilient, both of which are qualities that give us a sense of ownership about any situation. What makes you feel strong? It might be lifting actual weights or exercising, or it could be as simple as helping someone in need. Whatever it is, work out something that makes you feel strong and empowered in a way that works for you.
Is loving yourself something you find easy? If not, get creative with some of the options above to find a way that works for you. Making ideas like these part of your weekly routine is also important to keep the confidence and love you have for yourself going! Loving ourselves can sometimes be the best first step in loving others too.
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Author: Beth
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Sources:
https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/grounding101
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/16-empowering-affirmations-for-being-your-own-self-champion_uk_5b16c1fee4b0734a993803b6
