As a mom, every holiday takes on an entirely new meaning. Take Valentine's Day for example. I remember when Valentine's Days meant waiting for a dozen roses to be delivered to my office. Or picking out a nice dress and fancy shoes to wear out to dinner. Or hoping the gift from my boyfriend was wrapped in a tiny little box. I couldn’t imagine there being much more to the official day of love.
Then I became a mom and my capacity for love changed, along with how I prepare and spend my Valentine’s Day.
Now the days leading up to Valentine's Day are spent stuffing suckers and temporary tattoos in tiny little envelopes, picking out gifts and goodies for all my boys, and searching for ways to remind them they are loved. One activity I’m trying (emphasis on the trying part) this year is a Valentine Heart Attack for my oldest son. Each day between Feb 1-14th (or whenever you remember), you place a heart on your child's bedroom door that has a positive comment about them on it. It's a simple way to remind your child about all their amazing qualities and can reinforce that they are loved.
As I was preparing and writing out hearts for my oldest son, it sparked an idea. While it's pretty easy to come up with things I love about my children, I sometimes struggle identifying things I love about myself. So I decided that in addition to doing a Valentine Heart Attack for my kids, I was also going to do a similar activity for myself. I call it a Love Notes to Yourself.
Here’s what it entail, in case you want to give it a try too.
Each day for 2 weeks:
Look in the mirror and identify 1 thing you love about yourself and/or your life. Look beyond your physical attributes and go deep with this step.
Write a note to yourself on a paper heart, a post-it note or a piece of paper. Then display your love notes in a spot where you can see them. Maybe your bathroom mirror, the back of your bedroom door or on your desk in your office.
Pay attention to your mood and mindset over the course of the 2 weeks to see if you think, feel and act any differently as a result.
At the end of the 2 weeks, take a moment to re-visit your love notes and reflect on your words. Similar to practicing affirmations, this practice can help you challenge and overcome self-sabotaging thoughts and help you shift into a more positive mindset.
PS. This doesn’t have to be something you do only around Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect activity to try when you need a boost of confidence or to shift negative self-talk into positive self-love.