It’s February and Hearts are everywhere. Red hearts. Pink hearts. And of course, the heart that beats within you.
The American Heart Association has deemed February heart month because of the obvious connection to Valentine’s Day.
But there IS actually a connection between the love we yearn to express on Valentine’s Day, and what mind-body people and neuroscientists call our ‘heart center’ as well as our actual anatomical heart that beats lovingly for us, on average, about 100,000 times per day.
This month, I’d like to explore how the love we give ourselves actually benefits our beating heart as well as the hearts of those with whom we share our love.
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. ~ Buddha
Spiritual leaders, writers and philosophers have expressed for eons the importance of self-love. As it turns out – they were right! There are true physiological responses to self-love and self-care, ranging from reduced blood pressure, an enhanced sense of calm and well-being, reduced stress and anxiety to improving gut health.
As you know, whole person health and well-being is my passion. As we navigate our way through the ups and downs of February, I’d like you to take this month – heart month - and begin a practice of self-love.
There are many ways to do this. Here are just a couple:
- Write affirmations to yourself (love letters to self). Remember all your positive qualities and write them in a beautiful artistic letter to yourself. Maybe, actually send this letter to yourself and enjoy re-reading it when you get it in the mail.
- Each night before sleep, write down three things you LOVE about yourself. Is it your curiosity? Your resilience? Your vigor?
But I’d really like you to try this one.
Simply place your hands over your heart center. You can do this practically anywhere. Take a few breaths into that heart space. Feel the warmth, the connection, the peace, the love. Feel your heart beating lovingly for you, coursing oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body. “Thank you, heart”.
Do this when you need to reconnect to yourself or to another person. Do it when you’re feeling anxious or stressed. Do this when you are seeking inner guidance or solution to a problem.
Basically, be like Nike and “Just do it”.
You’ll feel better – about your situation and about yourself. And that’s the foundation of well-being.
If you’ve read my book, you know I love quotes. I’d like to leave you with a few to help you on your journey to loving yourself – fully, completely, unconditionally.
“When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, it doesn’t have any resolution, that the heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space.” ~ Pema Chodron, Start Where You Are
As you practice self-love, you will begin to embrace self-care, nourishing yourself with healthy food and lifestyle choices.
“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to true self, and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” ~ Parker Palmer
Happy Heart Month!
Until next time,
Be well my friends