Single red heart
While its origins harken back to ancient Roman times, Valentine’s Day has been officially celebrated in Europe since the 1300s. Named after a saint we know little about, this holiday has continued to grow in popularity.
With greeting cards taking hold as a method for sharing loving sentiments since the 1840s, February 14th now sees 62% of the U.S. population celebrating this day of romance.
For some, this mid February occasion is a beautiful day to recognize love and its many splendours.
For others, perhaps not so lucky in the arena of amour, it is a day they would rather let pass quickly unannounced and definitely uncelebrated.
I’ve never been one to believe that you need a special date on the calendar to express gratitude for the love you feel.
While I do like eating chocolate and it gives me a reason to wear red and pink together, I’m not a fan of the pressure many feel as the 14th approaches.
I’d rather use the day as a reminder to be kind to myself.
It is more than okay to give yourself the gift of self compassion and love.
Take the Quiz
If you’re not sure what I mean by the notion of self compassion, I invite you to take the self compassion quiz. It is free and takes no more than 5 minutes to complete.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself
As you ponder the notion of exercising more self-compassion, I encourage you to answer these three questions:
- When was the last time you did something you wanted to do without feeling pangs of guilt or the need justify your wishes to others?
- When was the last time you gave yourself a compliment or accepted a compliment from others without minimizing it?
- How much time do you spend on a weekly basis thinking about or acting on your dreams and goals?
Be Your Own Valentine
This Valentine’s Day, why not write yourself a card (or a sticky note) to acknowledge just one thing you really like about yourself.
Once you’ve created your note, put a heart around the statement and pin it to the mirror in your bathroom. Look at it every day for a week. Say the phrase out loud.
Why does this feel like its turning into a Stuart Smalley Daily Affirmation?
Humour me — give it a try. See how it feels to verbally acknowledge something you like about yourself.
Self-Compassion Helps with Self Love
On my meditation accreditation journey, I had the privilege of meeting Byron Katie. Of her many quotes, this one really resonated with me.
“It’s not your job to like me — it’s mine.”
Now, if you’re not sure what you may want to do for yourself on February 14 or you don’t feel you can commit a lot of time, I’ve included a 20 minute meditation on self compassion.
Let February 14 be the day you start a beautiful relationship with yourself.
