February is known as a month to lift up love, as Valentine’s Day lands in the middle of our shortest month of the year. While talking about love, lets specifically talk self-love. Merriam-Webster’s top two definitions of self-love are:
noun
- An appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue
- Proper regard for and attention to one’s own happiness or well-being
Self-love encompasses a healthy relationship with self, empathy, compassion, balance, realism, and resilience. It’s essential to cultivate self-love to strive for a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Self-love is an ongoing practice and I want to provide some ideas on how you can prioritize your self-love journey, and your mental health. These are only a few modalities and I encourage you to partake in whatever practice feels best to you, and leave the rest. You could start your day with positive affirmations to boost your self-esteem and cultivate a positive mindset. Here is a document with examples of Positive Affirmations.
The practice of gratitude journaling can help you reflect on the things you’re grateful for each day and shift your focus to the positive aspects of your life. You might want to engage in mindfulness or meditation practices to center yourself and reduce stress. Here is a 5-Minute Self Love Meditation (youtube.com) video you can use as a guiding post. Learn to say no to things that drain your energy and set healthy boundaries in your relationships. Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, big or small. Take some time for yourself without any external distractions by connecting with your thoughts, feelings, desires.
“Often we are reluctant to promote self-love mostly because we confuse it with selfishness. Since we are humans, we ought to have a healthy love for ourselves; it is from this fount that love flows out to others.”
Mason Olds
Here is a worksheet provided by the Health Coach Institute Self-Love 101 Worksheet to help you cultivate self-love every day!
Self-love is like the magical ingredient that makes everything in life taste better. It’s the foundation for a healthy and fulfilling existence. Now is your time to craft the ultimate recipe, which is happiness!