Whether or not you’re in a romantic relationship, Valentine’s Day often comes with a lot of pressure and expectation about what the day should look like.

This Valentine’s Day, consider putting your energy into the relationship that you have with yourself with a bit of self-care. Give yourself the things you wish to receive or experience on this or any other day.

Try out one or all of these ideas and see what works for you.

Forgive yourself 
Excuse yourself for all the times you may have lost a significant piece of yourself to find another. Deeply forgiving past mistakes and misjudgments in your past relationships will help you cultivate an open heart that is ready for new experiences.

Tune in 
Take time to check in with yourself. Connect to whatever it is that you need to be, feel or do in that moment. This will set the tone for your day and activate a presence of love that you can carry with you always.

Create a positive mantra 
We all have an ongoing internal script we sometimes aren’t even aware of. Become mindful of your inner voice and guide it to choose loving messages whenever the negativity begins to creep in. Some empowering mantras are: “I love and accept myself always” or “Self love is my birthright” or “I am valuable.”

Eat well 
One of the most important forms of self love is being selective about what food you choose to nourish your body with. Know how your food choices affect you and select the ones that create the highest form of energy, comfort and delight in your body.

Surround yourself with beauty
Our outer environment has great influence over our internal condition. Create a space for yourself that lights you up and fills you up. Fresh flowers, soft music, or an organized home can all be very helpful creating good vibes in your living area.

Write yourself a love note
Take time to write down things you admire about yourself. Release the urge to point out your flaws. Your self-doubt muscle may be stronger than your self-love muscle at the moment, but focusing on your strengths and your gifts will fuel your mission to create more appreciation and gratitude for yourself.

Take yourself out on a date 
Get dressed up and take yourself on a date for one. You get to choose the venue, the vibe, and the details. Indulge in an activity that’s good for your soul and brings you joy.

Spoil yourself 
Always remember to indulge in things that create passion and excitement in your life. These are the things that fuel you to consistently function at your best and flood you with good energy. Whether it’s a favorite book, movie, or a walk in nature—be sure to set this valuable time aside for yourself.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By T.J. Griffin, Director of Communications