Radical Self-Love

Your Gift this Valentine’s Day

This article was originally published in the Claim Yours newsletter. You can read it for free here.

I know that Valentine’s Day isn’t everyone’s favorite holiday. There can be a lot of pressure to do certain things, live a certain way, buy certain stuff.

But we’re not here to perpetuate that nonsense today.

Instead, we’re here to celebrate you. Yes, YOU.

I’m challenging you to engage in radical self-love today.

Photo by De’Andre Bush on Unsplash

In a society that is constantly telling us that we are not enough — that we need to work harder, make more, do more, and look…different — loving yourself is a revolutionary act.

Ultimately, radical self-love is an ongoing challenge that will last a lifetime. But for today, we can start small.

Here are a few ideas for how you can love yourself today:

• Interrupt a negative thought about yourself, and instead think of what you would say to your best friend.
• Set a boundary and enforce it. This can be at work or at home. Carve out a space for what YOU need and ask others to respect that space.
• Choose a loving affirmation and recite it throughout the day. It can be as simple as, “You’re good enough.”
• Take a break from social media and the opportunities to compare ourselves to the “perfect” facade that others display.
• Take some time to write out what you’re grateful for today, in all areas of your life.
• Write a list of the things you love about yourself.
• Do something you love to do.

I’ve decided that today, while no one is looking, I’m going to sing and dance. Because I love to sing and dance.

What about you? How will you love yourself today?

How will you love yourself every day?

If you’re interested in pursuing radical self-love in your life, consider getting a copy of The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor along with the accompanying workbook.

I’m not affiliated with this author or her work. I just think people should…