February is the month many celebrate Valentine's Day, a holiday we often regard as being reserved for those in romantic relationships. It can be an incredibly sweet celebration for some, and a dreaded time of year for others. Regardless of your relationship status, don’t overlook the importance of self-love. After all, the relationship you have with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever have and nurturing your well being on a physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual level is always a win.
Consider leveraging this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to uplevel your self-love practice.
Start with these three questions:
How do I currently practice self-love?
Which of my behaviors and beliefs get in the way of me experiencing self-love?
What small ways can I start or enhance my self-love practice?
At a loss for how to get started?
Check out this shortlist of suggestions:
Keep a gratitude journal and celebrate even the smallest stuff.
Adopt a “do your best, forget the rest” attitude and reject perfectionism.
Honor yourself as an individual and ditch the comparative mindset.
Surround yourself with people who admire, support and respect you.
Nourish your body by eating well.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Move your body through dance, yoga or other exercise.
Enjoy more of the “now” through meditation and mindfulness practices.
Speak kindly about yourself and eliminate negative self-talk.
Charge your batteries by getting plenty of rest.
Celebrate your wins; both big and small.
Give yourself permission to take yourself out on the perfect date. This one’s a personal favorite!
Lean into your passions and interests.
Hopefully these suggestions spur additional ideas on how you can bring more self-love into your daily life. Remember, when you love yourself, you foster a sense of well-being, empowerment and confidence which paves the way for a more fulfilling and rewarding life.
If you found this article inspiring or want to share additional ways you practice self-love, share your thoughts via email: heartsalivecoaching@gmail.com
About the author
Suzanna, founder of Hearts Alive Yoga, Coaching and Retreats, is dedicated to uniting people and promoting well-being. Explore her yoga class in Pinole, events and coaching at heartsaliveyoga.com.