Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you may have started to feel the pressure that this day naturally brings, regardless of your relationship status. It’s a day that is meant to serve as a celebration of love but it’s not uncommon for people to experience low self-esteem around the day. People who are single, married, or recently dating someone new can all feel this way, whether you have to plan a romantic date for your partner or are spending the holiday alone.
There’s a lot of societal pressure around dating and to be in the perfect relationship which we need to learn to let go of. There is no such thing as the perfect relationship or the perfect holiday or the perfect way to celebrate. All you can do is be aware of your mood and take the steps needed to pour love back into yourself whenever possible.
If you find yourself self-loathing for being single or that the relationship you’re in isn’t all that you want it to be, take a step back and take care of yourself first. Shift your perspective from seeing Valentine’s Day as a day for those in relationships to a day open to love for both yourself and others.
Here are some ways to empower yourself through Valentine’s Day, regardless of if you’re single or not.
1. Self-Care
Self-care means taking care of yourself in a way that makes you feel happy, healthy, and relaxed. To ward off any negativity around Valentine’s Day, take the time to pour love back into yourself, however that may look. Maybe you book yourself that massage you have said you always wanted, or maybe you go try out a new restaurant, or you join a gym, or pick up a good book to go read on the beach. Find something that you enjoy doing and take the time to get back in touch with yourself in a way that is more loving, and non-judgemental.
2. Celebrate Other Types of Love
Remind yourself again that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love between partners, it’s about all types of love. This lets you shift your focus onto loving yourself, your family, and your friends instead of dwelling on something you think you may be lacking. Call your parents, text your siblings, and go visit a friend. Those who love you will remind you of that love and in turn, reaching out to your loved ones will remind them that they are just as loved. By doing this, you will help boost your mood and brighten your day as well as theirs.
3. Make Other Plans
If you think that the holiday will affect your self-esteem, take initiative to change it up. Be purposeful about an upcoming day that you dread and turn it into something you’ll look forward to and are excited about. Make travel plans to warmer weather, buy some concert tickets, or plan a fun night out with some friends. These are all great ways to shift the focus away from the negativity and onto something more positive that will make a huge difference in how you feel.
4. Go Volunteer
What better way to spread love and kindness than by volunteering? This helps you feel empowered by giving back to your community while also giving you the opportunity to spend the day surrounded by other people and not feel so isolated. Volunteering gives you a chance to give back to something greater than yourself and to know that you helped someone else who needed it. And in turn, the person who is on the receiving end is going to feel so loved because someone cared enough to take the time to help them.
5. Practice Gratitude
Another way to boost your confidence and self-esteem is to take a step back and look at everything you have to be grateful for. When we focus on the lack of something (a partner, love, validation, etc.) we tend to forget about all the things we have that are going well for us. A shift in your mindset by focusing on the positives of each situation and actively thinking about what you are grateful for will help to lift your spirits and make you feel better about yourself. Be thankful that you have your health, a roof over your head, a fridge full of food, a family who loves you, and that you have the ability to do whatever it is you want.
6. Treat Yourself
Buy yourself the flowers, buy some new clothes, go get your favorite ice cream, go on an adventure by yourself, or whatever else will help brighten up your day. Everyone loves receiving gifts and how loved you feel when you open them but there’s another level of satisfaction in knowing that you bought something for yourself. You understand the hard work you have put in better than anyone else ever could, which can be a meaningful way to boost your self-esteem. Reward yourself for all the hard work you put in and give the love back to yourself.
Check Out Empower Adventures Middleburg
If you’re looking for the perfect way to boost your self-esteem and feel empowered to take on life’s challenges, check out Empower Adventures Middleburg! Empower provides unique and empowering adventure experiences for all guests at their zip line course. The signature Treetop Zip Tour features five zip lines ranging in length from 275′ to 670′ and two suspension bridges over the peaceful canopy of the Virginia countryside.
While zip lining is tons of fun, Empower Adventures isn’t actually a zip line business. All of the different adventures are specifically designed with leadership principles in mind to help people grow. That means giving every guest an experience that will help them feel stronger and more confident about who they are, improve their ability to face their fears and overcome challenges in their lives, and feel energized to make bold decisions towards living their best life. So take those 2 seconds of courage and go as far as you can, plus one step. You never know what will come of it.
