This month we talk about love… It’s february and next week is Valentine’s Day. This year we’re setting you a challenge: to send yourself a Valentine’s day card. This may seem a little strange but we’re going to ask you to do this anyway. Pick whichever one you like but write yourself a little love note and post it in time for it to arrive on 14th February.

So why send yourself a Valentine’s Day card? We want you to push the limits on what you think loving yourself really is. Buying, writing and posting your card requires you to firstly decide you matter enough to do it, secondly decide your willing enough to do it (not the same thing!) and thirdly to inconvenience yourself physically and probably mentally too. This last bit is important.

The reality is most of us put ourself near or on the bottom of the priority list. Children, spouse, relatives, friends, job, housework, finances, even watching TV, are often prioritised before self. We’re not saying any of the former is unimportant- it is. And so are you. In fact it’s you that interacts with everything that is on your priority list. So imagine how it would feel to interact with your kids, partner, work colleagues, etc, from a loving and self respectful place. Everything you did, said and the presence you bring would be strong and respectful. Everyone you love and care for the most would be energetically positively impacted.

The relationship you have with yourself (and it is a relationship) is the longest and most important one you will ever have. Treasuring it brings greater feeling of wellbeing, happiness, sense of self, love and fulfilment.

So for one day, the day that the world celebrates love, let’s do something a little ridiculous and something that offers you an opportunity to deepens your own connection to self whilst having a little fun. Take time to pick the card that speaks to your heart most. Take time to capture your positive aspects, write some meaningful words just for you, perhaps romance yourself; regardless remind yourself that you matter too. Post this card in time to arrive on 14th February and smile and enjoy the experience of sending something loving to yourself, just because you can.

One of the things you tell us you struggle with most is learning to love and appreciate yourself. Some of you have lost the ability and some of you feel you’ve never really had it. ‘Self love’ may seem a foreign term but self worth, self respect and self esteem are readily understood. Exercises, such as sending yourself a Valentine’s Day card, are fun. But learning to love yourself doesn’t usually happen over night.

Sometimes people recognise they need to deepen their love and respect for themselves in light hearted situations- a wonderful lady once told me she realised she needed to learn to love herself whilst trying on sunglasses. As she put them on and looked at herself in the mirror, she caught sight of another woman doing the same. The difference was that the other woman was looking at herself in front of the big mirror, checking the fit and look from every angle with great focus and dedication, whilst she was snatching peeks at herself in the corner of a tiny mirror whilst asking herself, “Would these do?” She had her lightbulb moment, recognised that she no longer wanted to live this way and set herself on a journey to loving an appreciating herself, courtesy of an enlightening shopping experience.

For most, however, learning to love, appreciate and respect yourself is a journey undertaken and often only partially recognised as important in times of great personal adversity. Like the marvellously courageous woman I work with who believes at her core that learning to love herself is essential to helping her heal her cancer. Or the man, now ready to help himself, who is further motivated by wishing to help his son.  And it’s on this journey that essences can help.

Loving Kindness is a gentle essence. It can help support you as you learn to love and appreciate yourself and help you in any efforts you undertake to be more compassionate to those around you. As a gentle essence, if you are feeling weakened or vulnerable, it combines excellently with Fortitude, which works as a strengthener for Loving Kindness and to your energy system as a whole. It also combines well with Peace if you are self critical, and Dignity, if you are in or recovering from life situations that have felt deeply hurtful and perhaps humiliating for you. Loving Kindness is also a wonderful essence for helping you connect with your Angels.

For more information on Loving Kindness click here. 

Genuinely loving yourself is a truly life affirming state of being that boosts your feeling of well being, love of life and sends positive ripples  to everyone you live, work and meet with.

Wherever you are on your journey, practice kindness and, where you need it, seek great supportive help.