As we celebrate Valentine’s Day,
Dr. Elena Villanueva says that today, you’ll likely hear a lot about love, many focus on the LOVE they have in their life. That might look like romantic love, the love between you and your gal pals, or the love you share with your kids, parents, or siblings. For many, February was also a great time to be reminded of both the kind we give to others and the ever-popular “self-love” message, the love we have for ourselves.
In marketing emails, TV commercials, and social media posts, self-care is often painted as an indulgence: spa days, chocolates, a well-deserved vacation, you name it. But if you’ve been running on empty, juggling responsibilities, and carrying the weight of everything for everyone else…
If you ask 100 people for a definition of self-love, you will likely get 100 different answers. And every single one of them is right! It doesn’t really matter HOW you practice self-love, as long as you practice it on a regular basis. Dr. Elena Villanueva shares that for many, the act of practicing self-love can be challenging. If you’ve been chronically sick for a while, it can be hard to find the energy and motivation to do something for yourself outside of just making it through the day. Not to mention being stuck in the mindset of being sick, which can make it hard to find joy in small acts of self-love.
Self-care might feel like one more thing on your to-do list. So consider this your gentle reminder: taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
If this resonates with you, Dr. Elena Villanueva invites you to focus this year on really honing in on what self-love means to you, and come up with an action plan on how you plan to make self-love a regular part of your routine. Here are a few of her personal favorite acts of self-love, and how she implements them.To help you, she put together a simple list of ideas, nothing fancy, nothing overwhelming.
Just a little inspiration to remind you of all the ways you could show up for yourself today. Pick whatever feels good. Leave the rest.
Morning mottos – before I get out of bed in the morning, I spend 10 minutes or so reflecting. I like to run through a series of affirming “I AM” statements.
“I AM beautiful, I AM strong, I AM loved, I AM abundance…”Cooking Healthy Meals – cooking high-quality, healthy food for ourselves is one of the greatest gifts of self-love you can give to yourself. If you have a hard time creating a routine around daily cooking, try meal prepping, crock pot meals, and even setting aside one afternoon on the weekend to do all your prep and set yourself up for success.
Daily Movement – after spending many years on my own healing, I find myself being driven and dedicated to daily gym sessions – but that wasn’t always the case. Even just 15 or 20 minutes of stretching on your living room floor or a leisurely walk with your dog around the neighborhood counts as movement! My goal is to MOVE every day – once this becomes a habit for you, you truly appreciate the self-love involved in that daily decision.
If those don’t resonate with you, here are some other really great ideas and options for starting a self-love routine:
● Write yourself a love letter each week
● Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers on a regular basis
● Take a long relaxing bubble bath regularly
● Unplug for 24 hours from tech and social media at least once per week
● Contemplate daily before you start your day
● Create a goals board for yourself on paper or on a powerpoint
According to the Bible, a positive aspect of self-love is recognizing that you are created in God's image and are inherently valuable because of His love for you, allowing you to appreciate your unique qualities and potential while also understanding that true self-love should be balanced with loving others as yourself, as seen in verses like Psalm 139:14 and the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" in Leviticus 19:18.
Key points about biblical self-love:
Morning prayers -
Begin your day with a dedicated prayer time, expressing thanks, asking for guidance, and setting your intentions for the day in alignment with your Christian values.
Here are some simple ways we can incorporate praise, prayer and devotional readings into the start of each day:
Choose a Bible Reading plan: to help establish and track your daily readings. Devote time to reading scripture, focusing on a passage relevant to your current life situation.
Keep a spiritual journal: Write down your thoughts, prayers, and reflections from your scripture reading to further process your spiritual experiences.
Meditation or reflection: Take moments to quietly contemplate the scripture you read, allowing it to sink in and apply its teachings to your life.
Gratitude practice: Start your day by actively listing things you are grateful for, acknowledging God's blessings in your life.
Pray, praise and worship God!
Created in God's image:
The Bible teaches that humans are made in God's image, implying inherent
worth and dignity, encouraging a positive view of oneself.
Psalm 139:13-14:
This passage emphasizes the wonder and care God took in creating each individual, stating "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb".Love your neighbor as yourself:
This commandment in Leviticus 19:18 indicates that loving oneself is a necessary foundation for loving others.
Not about self-centeredness:
While valuing yourself is important, the Bible warns against excessive self-absorption, instead encouraging a focus on using your gifts to serve others.
However you choose to practice self-love is up to you! What matters is that you commit to yourself and be consistent.
Sending you lots of LOVE on your healing journey,
Resources
https://modernholistichealth.com/your-commitment-to-self-love-in-your-healing-journey/
Summit Ministries: “What is Biblical Self-love?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkUlSknqRg
Joyce Meyers Ministries: “Loving God, Yourself and Others” https://joycemeyer.org/grow-your-faith/articles/loving-god-yourself-and-others
Mabel Martinez-Almonte, OTR/L, MA, MHC, NCC
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately. You can text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog is generated for entertainment or/and informative purposes, but not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or behavioral health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.