Will you be your valentine?

Will you be your valentine?

Loving yourself is the greatest gift of all. It is about taking care of yourself — mind, body and soul — and appreciating who you truly are, who you have been and who you want to become.

by Brandi Maine — 

Why not? Aren’t you loveable? Of course you are. We all are. Yet many of us focus on the needs of everyone else around us. While that is very thoughtful, it is vital to also pay special attention to yourself. With February designated as the month for love, it is the perfect time to make the conscious decision to appreciate and love yourself more.

Loving yourself is the greatest gift of all. It is about taking care of yourself — mind, body and soul — and appreciating who you truly are, who you have been and who you want to become. We all need to love ourselves in order to have healthy, well-balanced lives.

Self-care is grossly overlooked in our culture. We rush through our days attempting to accomplish more than is realistically possible. With career, family, household functions and time for play (which frequently leaves us feeling even more depleted) there is little time for true relaxation and self-care, the time necessary for our bodies and minds to take leave of the responsibilities of the day. And no, television does not count as relaxation.

Start by setting boundaries for yourself, by saying “no” when someone asks you to do something you really do not want to do. When you let others walk all over you, you neglect to do the things you are truly passionate and excited about. Be who you want to be and do what you want to do, and you will soon see the rewards.

Bring positive people into your world. Surround yourself with friends who care and support you, even in your darkest hours. Attract people who will encourage you and support you to follow your own heart. Perhaps put some distance between yourself and those friends who call you only when they are in need.

Let go of the past. Quit dwelling on what might have happened if you had just stuck it out in that relationship that was going nowhere. Or why you left one job for another, wondering what might have been. Rather, focus on the here and now, and what you need to do to move forward. Do you want to go back to school or change careers? Find your soul mate or be more adventurous? Each day is a brand new canvas on which you can paint your most passionate dreams coming true. The time for you is now.

Spend some quality time alone with yourself. When was the last time you took yourself to lunch or did something special just for you? It is perfectly acceptable to spoil yourself. Reflect on your life and your desires through meditation and journaling. Dream big. Pamper yourself with facials, manicures and massage; it is more than a luxury —

it is the essence of self-care.

So, every day, be your valentine and show yourself how important you are.

Brandi Maine is a licensed massage therapist, professional life coach and angel therapy practitioner. She has a private practice within Advanced Holistic Health Centers, offering therapeutic massage, reflexology, hypnotherapy and life coaching. 480-706-6664 or brandimaine@aol.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 23, Number 1, February/March 2005.