You don’t have to be paired up to celebrate St Valentine’s Day. Although the annual celebration of romance may be commercially geared up for loved up couples, it’s also a great time for single folk to exercise self-reflection and to practice self-love.
On 14 February, give your wellbeing a boost by directing your attention to your unique beauty, emotions and personal achievements. When you celebrate the best of you, your efforts won’t go unnoticed and you’ll attract genuine connections with people who appreciate and value you.
Create a self-love ritual
To create a special Valentine’s Day ritual that honours and celebrates the best of you, begin by defining its purpose and intention. Do you want to let go of emotional baggage that keeps you stuck in a repetitive cycle? Would you love to deepen your connection with your spiritual side? Is there a health/fitness goal that you would like to achieve? On a piece of paper, write down in detail the reasons why it’s time to put yourself first.
Make time to sit in stillness in your favourite space, where and when there are no distractions. You can light a candle, play soothing music and practice some gentle stretching exercises. Meditating for 10-15 minutes is also beneficial.
As you mindfully move your awareness throughout your body, focus on reconnecting with your heart, and set your intention. Allow random thoughts to float away as you remind yourself that you are special and worthy of compassion, affection and happiness. End the meditation by visualising yourself surrounded by a beautiful soft pink light that is infused with unconditional love.
Express your feelings
After your rejuvenating meditation, take a moment to acknowledge and express your feelings. Being in a compassionate, thankful and mindful state may have released stuck emotions, so it’s natural to feel sadness, excitement or joy.
Give yourself permission to let your feelings flow. You can write down what you’re feeling in a journal, or express it via an activity like dancing, cooking or painting.
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Nurture your mental health
There are many ways in which you can nurture your mental health and celebrate the best of you this Valentine’s Day. Engaging in hobbies, spending time in nature and learning a new skill are positive experiences that improve mental wellbeing. That’s because when you’re in the flow zone, of an activity that you enjoy, the chemicals in your brain change causing a positive shift in your mood.
Make a date on V-Day to do more of the things that you love. Pack a delicious picnic for one and head off to a favourite beauty spot where you can connect to nature and yourself. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon reading a good book, listening to music, or exercising your culinary skills.
Give yourself a meaningful gift
Instead of going on a Valentine’s Day spending spree, give yourself a unique and meaningful gift that costs absolutely nothing.
On a sheet of beautiful writing paper, craft a DIY love letter that highlights the reasons why you should celebrate the best of you every year. In your heartfelt letter, describe all of the traits, quirks and attributes that make you so awesome. If you like, you can also write about a past happy memory, or set an intention for something that you want to manifest in your future.
When you’ve finished, fold the love letter and pop it inside an envelope. Put it in a safe place until Valentine’s Day next year. You’ll be able to gift it to yourself, and to write an updated love letter for the following self-love V-Day celebration.
Celebrate your friendships
Many singles choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the company of their best buddies. This year, appreciate love in all of its forms by getting together with your closest friends, and have fun making happy memories. Honour the friendships that have lasted for eons, and celebrate newer connections with like-minded people. And remember that your true friends love and appreciate you just the way you are.