Happy Love Month! Valentine’s Day can bring up a lot.
If you are not in a happy relationship seeing happy couples all around you may lead to thinking and feeling that you are missing out. Valentine’s Day comes with a lot of pressure. It’s supposed to be the one day when love is being expressed and shown through gifts.
Let us use this day as a reminder to ourselves to be loving and compassionate with ourselves. It all begins with self-love. What does your heart desire? What do you wish another person would say to you? Say it to yourself!
The journey as a caregiver often leads to forgetting oneself or at the very least not prioritizing oneself. How could you start to give yourself the love? How could you start being compassionate with yourself?
First take this self-compassion test to know where you are starting from: Self Compassion Test.
Then read these articles and start implementing these practices to learn and practice self-compassion which is an act of self-love.
1. Self-Compassion Exercise Through Writing
Write a letter to yourself from the perspective of an unconditionally loving imaginary friend.
2. Guided Self-Protective Compassion Break
This mindfulness practice can help you be brave so you can speak up, draw a boundary, or protect yourself.
3. 11 Simple Ways To Practice Self-Love This Valentine’s Day (And Beyond)
From self-compassion to stress relief, this article explores expert-backed tips for cultivating self-love, improving mental health, and strengthening relationships this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
4. Embodied Self-Compassion Practice
This video guides you through a practice that helps you overcome feelings of unworthiness and encourages you to view your life with acceptance and compassion.
5. 12 minute guided meditation for self-compassion and loving kindness
This meditation helps you relax and build self-kindness by focusing on your breath and repeating gentle, positive phrases. It begins at 3:40 mins.