A Valentine's Day Gift
Every year Valentine’s Day is a struggle for many people. For those who are single, it may serve as a reminder that they are “alone”. For those who are in a relationship, it becomes a stressful time when one often tries to “prove” to the other their true affections by spending money.
Your self-worth is not defined by your relationship status, nor is it defined by how much time, money or energy your significant other spent on you.
The only person with the power to define your self-worth is you.
Maybe we need to start to rethink the love day as a self-love day. What are the things you would like to gift yourself? When was the last time you did something for you? When was the last time you had friends over for a fun board game night? Give yourself the gift of self-acknowledgement. Decide to make yourself a priority from today forward. Give your passions the attention they deserve. Choose to do something, whether large or small, that will make you smile. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
Take some time for yourself to enjoy a peaceful sunset on the beach. If you miss spending time with your friend, invite her/him to join you and catch up on each other’s lives.
Dedicate 10 minutes of your day to meditation. It is a daily reminder of self-awareness and a great mechanism for stress relief.
Treat yourself to a day at the spa. Give yourself permission to be pampered and feel relaxed.
If you could learn any new skill what would it be? Now, go sign up for that class – whether it be painting, motivational speaking, cooking, or woodworking!
Do something nice for a friend. Research shows that when we do things for others we feel better. Community work is a wonderful way to motivate yourself.
Give yourself permission to “do nothing” -- Take a long bath, enjoy reading a book, have mug of warm tea while relaxing under a cozy blanket and just enjoy the wonderful company of yourself.
Remember, there is no need to wait until Valentines to love yourself. When you start to forget your own self in the hustle of modern life, remember this quote from Buddha::
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”
