Valentine’s Day has traditionally been a day in the calendar for romantic love, but why should we confine such a lovely festivity to just one kind of feeling? This year, let’s take a wider view of love—one that begins on the inside.
Embrace Yourself.
Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to show yourself some love. Celebrating yourself means being proud of who you are, including your imperfections. It’s not a selfish thing; it’s the most loving thing you can do.
When you honor and empower yourself, you build a wellspring of self-worth that can only flow outward.
The Benefits of Self-Love.
This kind of self-care results in more energy and greater engagement with the world.
MORE LOVE TO GIVE: A heart brimming with love of self can love others without end.
When you truly feel whole in yourself, you can better give love in more powerful ways — whether it’s with your friends, your family, or even your community. But by practicing self-love, you are showing others what it means to be empowered. You teach them what it means to be confident, vibrant, and bakin’ in love. They may have few or even no examples of this. Sometimes the magic is in knowing there are options and possibilities not yet seen. This may encourage those around you to take their own paths in self-acceptance.
Here are some fresh ideas for reinventing Valentine’s Day as a holiday to honor all kinds of love:
Self-Care Day: Make the day all about you! Spoil yourself with a spa day at home, get lost in a favorite hobby, or simply relax and unwind.
One of my favorite self-care days is to treat myself to an overnight at the beach, in the mountains, heck, anywhere in nature that I love. Then I either go out for a beautiful meal or take a special bottle of wine and some of my favorite foods and make a toast to past loves, those who’ve passed, and those in my life now.
Galentine’s Gathering: Bond with your BFFs over a Galentine's Day brunch or dinner. Tell stories, laugh, and celebrate what makes each of you special.
Last night I watched an old episode of Queer Eye and saw the power that can happen when someone who’s always giving to others and ignoring herself, instead steps back and receives love, acknowledgment, and appreciation from those in her life. She’d given up, and during this process, she saw the effect this was having on her daughters, and how they perked up when she stepped into a bit of her lost power. It was inspiring. I believe that modeling to others is a gift that creates far-reaching ripples.
Community Love: Donate your time or money to a community organization. Instead of seeing this as giving to the less fortunate, make an effort to get to know them, understand what they can contribute, and brainstorm with others to help them find ways to empower and appreciate themselves.
This may be controversial, but I believe that when we see others as disadvantaged, we help them remain empowered. But if we can see their deeper selves, not just their circumstances, great changes are possible.
Positive Exchange: Establish a positive-affirmation circle with your friends and loved ones, where you swap affirmations. Write down what you appreciate about one another, and exchange them to remind yourselves of your shared values.
Gemstone Gifts: Gift yourself or your loved ones gemstone jewelry that represents self-love and empowerment. For instance, rose quartz and rhodochrosite are associated with the energies of love and compassion, and amethyst is believed to promote spiritual awareness and peace of mind. One of my favorites is Lapis Lazuli because it helps the wearer connect to the truth of who they are, step out of fear, and shift their posture in just a minute. It can be a powerful moment.
Conclusion
This Valentine’s Day, can we open our hearts and minds not only to romantic love but also to the love for ourselves and others that, if cultivated, transcends all? When we nourish our spirit, we spread a ripple of love that reaches everyone around us. So, let’s embrace the beauty of self-love and all the myriad forms it can take!
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Stones promoting Self-love and acceptance