The Month of Love Begins with You: A Guide to Self-Love and Self-Care
Rethinking the “Month of Love”
February is often seen as the “month of love.” When we think of Valentine’s Day, our minds tend to go straight to romantic love. What if we looked at this month a little differently? Before we can fully give love to others, we must first learn to love ourselves. That’s much easier said than done. I know it is for me.
So, How Do We Show Ourselves Love?
Showing self-love may look different for each person. The first thing to consider is, what fills your cup? Day-to-day we are expected to give ourselves to our jobs, families, pets, etc. By the end of the day, our cups are close to empty. How can we expect ourselves to give more the next day if our cup is empty? We must fill it.
Fill Your Cup
Filling your cup may look like 15 minutes of uninterrupted “me time”, baking your favorite cozy comfort dessert, reading a new book, getting physical exercise, or even just binge watching your favorite show. Filling your cup doesn’t have to take hours, even small windows of time several times a day will make a difference. The more we show up for ourselves, the easier it will be to show up for others.
Care for Your Body
Another way to show yourself love may sound very simple but has proven to be very effective: take care of your body. Ensure that you are drinking enough water. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Eat foods that nourish your body. Don’t forget to breathe! If we take better care of ourselves, our nervous systems will thank us for it when we need to be centered and well-rested to face obstacles throughout the day.
Take Your Mental Health Into Your Own Hands
One last way to show yourself love could be taking your mental health into your own hands. It is very easy for our mental health to feel out of our control. You are not alone and there are supports out there to help you hold that weight. Ways to improve your mental health can include leaning on your support system, engaging in support groups, practicing mindfulness, and going to therapy. You are not expected to handle everything on your own and leaning on your support system is a great way to show yourself a little love and self-compassion.
A Reminder for February and Beyond
This February, and every month to follow, I encourage you to remind yourself that you are capable and worthy of feeling love. Love does not have to come from others to mean something. The love you create within yourself is powerful and important.