What's Self Love Got to do With It?

Happy Valentines Day! Such a fun day to celebrate the special people in your life and make them feel loved and appreciated. But, what about you? What do you do to celebrate you and show yourself some love?

You might be wondering...what's that got to do with anything? What's the big deal about self care and self love? If you're lacking motivation, inspiration and struggling to live a healthy lifestyle, showing yourself a little more love might be just what you need!

Self care is about truly taking care of yourself, doing what feels true to you and operating from a place love. When you approach fitness, nutrition and healthy living from a place of love instead of a place of self loathing, deprivation, shame and fear, it becomes more natural, more enjoyable and feels nourishing, energizing and empowering!

Valentine's Day is the perfect day to look at how the choices you're making and the way you treat/talk to yourself is positively or negatively impacting your lifestyle? Do you tell yourself you have to go to the gym and workout because you're overweight, out of shape or don't love your body? Do you tell yourself you can't eat "this" or have "that" because you are afraid of gaining weight? Do you stay in toxic, draining, shallow relationships because you're scared of being alone?

If you are in a loving relationship with someone you wouldn't say those things to them, treat them that way or encourage them to continue with the behaviors and relationships that are bringing them down. When you are in a loving relationship with yourself, you don't hold space for or give your time, energy or thoughts to those things either. You don't shame, compare or put yourself down when it comes to fitness and exercise. You move your body in a way that feels good and stay fit because it gives you energy! You don't restrict, deprive or eat from a place of fear. You nourish your body with healthy, fresh, nutrient rich foods because they taste delicious and make you feel amazing! You don't surround yourself with people who dump their negative energy on you and suck the positive out of your day. You spend your time with people who lift you up and make your heart happy! Show yourself some love! Everything you do for those you love; kind words of encouragement and support, forgiveness for mistakes, acceptance and appreciation for imperfections, pointing out, sharing and doing the things you know are unique and special to them. Self love is about doing these things for you!

Once you start treating yourself this way, your healthy lifestyle just falls into place! You will be amazed at how motivated and even excited you are to challenge your body, try new workouts and take your fitness to places you never imagined! All of sudden, those leafy greens and nutrient rich foods could not look more enticing or delicious and once you feel the difference, eating healthy is so much easier. Follow your heart, be true to yourself and allow your bright, positive light to attract people who vibrate at the same high frequency to come into your life and build nurturing, supportive relationships!

Enough with negative self talk, playing small, ignoring needs, demeaning, disrespectful and destructive behavior. It's time to learn what love truly means and to not only show it to those around you, but to operate from a loving place and show it to you. You are meant to shine, share your love and big, beautiful, light in everything you do!