The Act of Love

On this very appropriate day, I wanted to reflect on how the act of love affects our mental and emotional health. It starts with a positive relationship with yourself, which can then have a trickle down effect on your relationships with others. We've all heard the terms "self care" and "self love" thrown around a lot (especially in the past couple of years), and visions of walks on the beach and spa treatments come to mind. While these things are amazing and can bring joy into our lives, it doesn't have to take a lot out of your day or even your wallet to be a practice of self love. Sometimes we get so caught up in taking care of others, in our personal and professional lives, that we forget ourselves completely. Simple things everyday that allow you to feel good in doing something for yourself can make a big difference in your overall mental well being. While there are many possibilities, some examples are getting a cup of coffee on your way to work, taking a walk, listening to music or a podcast that you like and taking a long candlelit bath. A very big act of self love is being kind to your inner self. Knowing how to monitor your "inner critic" and replacing harsh thoughts with compassion and understanding for yourself plays a very important role in being healthy.

Healthy relationships with others is also so important for our happiness and emotional stability. This means having people in our lives who we share a mutual respect with and want only the best for. This means choosing people in our life who lift us up not try to knock us down. These relationships can be friendships, romantic or even with those we do not know - yes even people you are not close with are people you can show love to everyday. Examples are the barista at the coffee shop you frequent, the mail carrier who leaves your dog or cat treats (ours does this) and even the people behind you in the drive thru can feel the love if you pay for their coffee or meal (think of how that would make you feel!)

I am a big fan of podcasts, and get a lot out of listening to people who are experts, or have on experts, who talk about making this life the very best it can be. One of my favorite podcasters is Mel Robbins. If you have not listened to her podcast, I highly recommend doing so. She puts one out twice weekly, and I always look forward to listening to them in the car or on a walk (one of my acts of self love). Here is a link to one of her most recent podcasts on ways to get the love that you want in your life - Click here to watch on YouTube

Have a beautiful day!