Skip the Valentine’s Day Anxiety and Give That Love to Yourself!
As the stores fill up with more stuffed animals, chocolate boxes, and flowers, it can be difficult to forget that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If it feels like it’s looming, you’re not alone. But, it doesn’t have to feel that way! While a desire for romance and romantic love can be totally normal and healthy, it’s important to remember that it’s not required to feel happy, healthy, or validated in your worth. Whether or not you’ll be spending any time with a special someone this Valentine’s Day, we’ve got some great tips on how to move through Valentine’s Day anxiety and give yourself the best of your own love with lots of self-love on Valentine’s Day.
Acknowledge your feelings
Whether you’re wondering if a special someone feels the same way, you’re waiting to take your relationship to the next level, or you’re feeling in a funk about riding solo this Valentine’s Day, the first thing to remember is that it’s okay to feel however Valentine’s Day is making you feel. Feelings don’t go away just by ignoring them, and they also don’t define reality. Happy, sad, or somewhere in between, the best way out is through. Once you’ve acknowledged the feelings you’re having about Valentine’s Day, you can create a plan of action to move past them into more productive feelings on the positive side of things. If working through your feelings feels tough, help is available. Therapy for young adult women is an incredibly effective tool for learning to navigate big emotions and it could be helpful to you, too!
Challenge the status quo
If you’re feeling up for a little rebellion this Valentine’s Day, try imagining what Valentine’s Day would look like to you if YOU were the one who created the holiday. Guess what, you can absolutely make that a reality. Valentine’s Day as most of us know it is an overly commercialized event full of societal “norms” and expectations that can and should be challenged. Valentine’s Day isn’t only for cute couples who are madly in love, there is more than just one way to celebrate love of all kinds! A great example of this is the ever-growing “Galentine’s Day” trend where women and girls celebrate themselves, sisterhood, and all things love with their friends regardless of their relationship status!
Define love on your terms
While you’re challenging yourself, take it a step further and just sit with the question, “What does love mean to you?” Is it really a performance of gifts and flowers on just one day? Is it consistency or honesty? Love has some telltale signs for sure, but it looks and feels different to everyone. Asking yourself this question is important because you might learn that you’re feeling anxious about a holiday that doesn’t even really represent the kind of love you most desire. Valentine’s Day marketing is great at getting us caught up in what we think the day should look like whether it actually matches our idea of love or not. Whatever the answer is, ask yourself if you can find it in the world around you, Valentine or not. If the answer is yes, try leaning into the reminders of love around you no matter how Valentine’s Day turns out. If the answer is no, you’ve got a great opportunity in front of you to begin cultivating love of all kinds in your life. Not just on Valentine’s Day.
Make self-care plans
If you don’t have a go-to self-care routine, the time around Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to create one. Channel all the love circulating around this holiday into yourself and see how your life begins to change for the better. Even if you do have a current routine, celebrating the day of love is a great time to do something extra special. Whether it’s a treat, a little adventure, or just a cozy weekend nap, it’s always a good time to give yourself some extra TLC (and make a habit of it!)
Seek support from loved ones or a professional
Sometimes our desire for romantic love and closeness is so strong that it’s not so easy to push it aside even if we try to give ourselves the love we desire. Additionally, all the self-love in the world doesn’t replace our need for love and connection with others. If you’re struggling this year to move past some heavy emotions around Valentine’s Day, know that it’s ok to seek support and even help. One holiday should not validate our worth or cause low self-esteem; working with a professional or relying on loved ones for support can help ensure that doesn’t happen.
If you’re looking for more support through therapy in St. Pete, Blossom Into A Better You is an excellent option for learning more ways to give yourself self-love on Valentine’s Day and beyond so that you can be ready when other types of love come your way. For more information, contact us today!
