Valentine’s Day: the day dedicated to loving and showing that love to your significant other. There seems to be two dominant perspectives when it comes to how people perceive Valentine’s Day; either you hate to be reminded that you are single, or you cannot wait for that fancy dinner, roses, and chocolates. There is nothing wrong with having a special day with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and there is nothing wrong with accepting your independence and taking pride in being on your own. However, it is also important to recognize that you, yourself, also deserve your own affection--your own tenderness, love, and care.

If you consider yourself single, it is important to realize that loving yourself is key to contentment. If you are in a relationship, you should know that loving yourself independently and recognizing your worth is just as important as someone else saying that they love you. In my first article, Why You Need To Put Yourself First, I touched on the subject of self-love and why you deserve to give yourself a break. This being said, you should also put yourself first by accepting that your own beauty and value as an individual is just as essential as allowing yourself to relax when you are overworked. You should acknowledge that your worth as a person is just as crucial as the worth you place on your relationships with family, friends, and lovers. Ultimately, practicing self-love is important for maintaining your mental health, which in return creates a more positive outlook for how you perceive your life.

Too often do people rely on the love they receive from others to uplift themselves; it is easy to think that a particular void can be filled by someone showing you affection, and that is assumed to be enough. Nonetheless, the love you receive from others is priceless, yet it is not everything you need in order to be a happy and satisfied person in the long term. If you struggle with your self-image, if you feel hopeless, feel worthless, feel like you could be better, wish you were different, or obsess over your flaws and adversities… Know that there are things you can change, but much you cannot, and this is where the acceptance of who you are and the loving of your own being comes to be of importance. Accept that you are exceptional, one-of-a-kind, and deserving of your own adoration.

You should love your body. This is a prominent topic for young girls and women, but also an issue that applies to men and the standards they too are expected to uphold. Many messages received from media and society imply that you have to look a certain way in order to be beautiful or attractive, but I could not disagree more. Loving your body and accepting your unique appearance is necessary to boost your self-esteem and comfortability in your own skin. Not only should this boost of confidence reflect how you feel physically, but mentally. You should love your mind. It is important to be confident in your own persona, be confident in what you feel and believe, and how you express and experience. You may be discouraged or judged for your beliefs or charisma, but know that your best self is not for pleasing others. Who you are on the inside defines your character and identity, and this should be appreciated and valued. Your personal identity will lead you through life, and you should also love where you are. Not everyone is going to be at the same place at the same time, so you should embrace where you are in this moment.

So, let this Valentine’s Day serve as a reminder that love is more than just the utmost affection you feel for something or someone else. Love who you are and what lies within you. Let this powerful self-love guide you and radiate onto others, and most importantly, never let anyone or anything steal that away.