Your best love story is the one with yourself
Valentine’s day is about you too
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and romantic dinners with a lover; it’s also a gentle nudge to remember the most sacred and best love story of all is the one we have with ourselves. Each year, as I reflect on the essence of Valentine's Day, I'm reminded that this celebration serves as a poignant reminder to prioritize self-love every single day, not just on February 14th. Amidst life's whirlwind of responsibilities, demands, and expectations, it's all too easy to relegate ourselves to the bottom of our priority list. But as cliché as it may sound, “you cannot pour from an empty cup.”
Self-love is the cornerstone of our existence—it's the bedrock upon which all other forms of love and fulfillment are built. It's about honoring our worth, embracing our vulnerabilities, and nurturing our souls with kindness and compassion. It's about recognizing that we are worthy of unconditional love, care, and respect, not just from others, but from ourselves first. These are the ingredients needed in our cup to show up as our most optimized self in life for ourselves, and others.
So this Valentine's Day and onwards, let's make a conscious effort to turn inward and celebrate the beauty of our own essence, hearts, and souls. What’s better than using the ideal practice to get yourself there? Yes, the one and only: mindfulness. Indeed, being in the present moment in full awareness of self and our surroundings without involving ourselves or reacting to the situation can seem quite trivial but our mind is so quick to go into fight or flight mode making us lose touch with our body, and ultimately getting stuck in our head on an obsessive, and negative thoughts disk about something that happened in the past or merely worrying about what is yet to happen. And how do we feel then? Anxious, worried, ready to distract ourselves with everything misaligned with our well-being, loathing in comparison, self-hatred, and losing sight of our worth.
Here are a few ways you can cultivate self-love and curate your own lifelong best love story with your beautiful self:
Practice Self-Compassion: treat yourself with the same tenderness and understanding you offer to your dearest friends. Embrace your imperfections, it doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement but that you can give yourself permission to acknowledge that just like everyone else, you are perfectly imperfect, just the way you are.
Prioritize Self-Care: self-care isn't selfish—it's an essential act of self-love. Whether it's indulging in a long bubble bath, curling up with a good book, or savoring a cup of tea in silence, make it your job to carve out moments of joy and nourishment for yourself.
Set Boundaries: boundaries are the sacred fences that protect our hearts and preserve our well-being. Learn to say no to things that drain our energy and yes to the people and activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. If it’s not a “heck” yes, then it’s a polite “no, thank you".
Cultivate Self-Awareness: embarking on your journey of self-discovery and self-awareness is the best gift you could ever give to yourself. Make it a habit to take time to explore your passions, values, and dreams, and align your actions with your authentic self.
Practice Gratitude: gratitude is the antidote to scarcity—it's the key that unlocks the abundance of life's blessings. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude and counting your blessings, both big and small, every single day is a true game changer in loving yourself and your life just as it is for now.
As we celebrate Valentine's Day this year, let's remember that the most precious love story of all is the one we have with ourselves. Nobody else will spend as much time with you in your lifetime as you with yourself. So let's honor our hearts, cherish our souls, and embrace the beauty of our own existence. After all, the greatest love of all begins from within.