Self Love

In the days running up to Valentines Day, it’s easy to get caught up in all the hoo ha and importance of buying your other half a card and/or gift and making a big fuss to show how much you love them.

It’s great to see people do this, but instead of showing love over the top-ly on one day, why not try and do some little gestures each day. Things like, leaving a note in their packed lunch or in their pocket, cooking their favourite meal or going out to their favourite restaurant, arranging a regular date night is a great way to ensure you spend time together and leave the cares of the day behind you.

Anyway, what’s that got to do with self love I hear you say! Well, instead of the gifts and the cards why not agree to do something for yourself. Celebrate Valentines for you! Now I’m not saying to go out and buy yourself a card or a gift and say ‘To me, I love you, from me’. No, I’m meaning spend some time doing something you love. Maybe it’s booking yourself a massage, taking the afternoon off work to get stuck into a book you have been trying to read for ages or even just binge watching a box set you’ve had your eye on for a long time.

It’s not indulgent to spend some you time, it’s great for your own wellbeing and getting your happy on! You don’t need permission to look after you and enjoy a favourite pastime. I mean you may need help to orgainse childcare or get someone to walk your dog but it isn’t a crime to want to do something you love or want that benefits your physical or mental health.

I had a lovely massage the other day, spent some time with my friend, we went for a swim and had a laugh catching up, it was great! It takes you out of the day to day crazy and helps to give you balance where your own personal life is at the forefront. I’ve also been going running with a friend once a week, it gets me moving, gets me outside in the evening and more importantly I get to catch up with my fab friend! When you do things with friends it does wonders for your soul! It makes your insides sparkle and gives you a boost! I do things on my own as well. As you know, I love walking and reading, so today I spent some time doing both. I love going out for a walk, I tend to make sure I always get to see some kind of nature, whether is it through a wood/forest or in a park or near the sea/river/beach. I love being close to it and definitely feel it nourishes me and gives me energy. For me this is what I do for self love and care.

Children, are really good at self love, although they and we don’t see it as such. But when they are playing with their friends they are happy, when they are playing outside and running around the garden they are happy or maybe when they are playing video games that is what they really enjoy and love. They take the time to play because they are ‘allowed to’. But so are you. You can do that too. If what you really want to do is run around the garden dressed as a unicorn, then do it! So what if your neighbours think you’re crazy. If it increases your happy hormones and gets you taking care of you, then its a positive!

One big thing you can do to help you on your self love journey is to stop comparing yourself with others, we all do it, but why when we are all so different. I think it starts at school when you are often compared to your peers or your siblings, whether it is what grades you get or the holidays your friends go on. We never stop comparing. Be kind to yourself. Do you really want to be the same as someone else. Why not be you? Individuality is something I have learned in recent years, maybe the last 10 or so. We tend to suppress who we really are at work for instance, put on our work persona, we don’t want our colleagues thinking we are weird. About 5 years ago I decided I was fed up always being on a work persona, I was looking for another job and was lucky to get lots of interviews but I just couldn’t get past that. I was trying to be someone they wanted and boy it was hard work. I got called in last minute to an interview and only had an hour or so to get there. I hadn’t done my research for the company as I just didn’t get time, so could only look up a few things on the train as I went in. That interview went well, I was myself entirely, a little bit weird with some spark and I was offered the job there and then. I couldn’t believe it. But I know it was because I was being me and my personality shone through along with my experience. I am so grateful for that interview, from then on I decided to just be myself. My tip for you there is to just be yourself, you are truly wonderful and unique and nobody will ever be like you, so why do you want to be the same as others. Normal isn’t a reality, there is no normal. Embrace the weird in you! I love it! I love finding out fun, weird or strange facts about people, it makes us interesting. Be you and love who you are without all the pressure to be like others!

Today I have had a really great day of self love – walking, reading, blogging and talking to loved ones. On my happy scale, I am definitely feeling 🤩.

Have a wonderful week and have a lovely Valentines, whether you are spending time with your partner or are having a day for you. Enjoy it all.

Look after you!

Love Emma

xx