For the past 13 days, I've been facilitating my 14-Day Self-Love Challenge (click to join). Sadly, many struggle to feel worthy and lovable. I understand this because I used to feel similarly. For me, it's been a long, slow process with many twists and turns, but one that's been worth every moment of discomfort. Facilitating this challenge has gotten me to think a lot about self-love and how it eludes so many.

The important thing to understand is that self-love is not an event. Self-love is a series of mini-events or activities that slowly begin to increase our self-love "tank". Maintaining a self-love practice is a continuous process that never ends. As we know, sometimes old habits resurface. For long-term success, we must be consistent, committed and deliberate.

I love this image from @EatPrayFML because it illustrates some of the things that can be used to make a yummy self-love "cocktail". While some or none of the activities may appeal to you, I'm sure you have a host of other activities that you'd use to make your own self-love cocktail.

While my clients often come to me to help them dismantle the challenges their disordered eating and body dissatisfaction is causing them, when we get beneath it all, we begin to see that their eating difficulties often stem from a lack of self-love (which includes self-care), low self-worth, and the inability to establish boundaries with themselves and others among other things.

When we give ourselves permission to make ourselves a priority in our own lives, amazing things can happen! When we don't, we often suffer and don't live our lives to the fullest. Can you relate? I know I can relate to this, even with decades of personal development work, thousands spent on professional training, and life experiences I've had.

However, when we build up our self-love tank we put ourselves first, living more fulfilling and joyful lives that are aligned with our personal values. That's when we really begin to develop into the fully evolved people we were meant to be!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so it seems like a perfect perfect time to think about what would go into your self-love cocktail.

If you had to guess, which "ingredients" would be contained in your self-love cocktail?

What are the things that make you feel nourished (or you think could), rejuvenate you and allow you to feel like your needs matter?

Once you've decided, ask yourself what is preventing you from getting these ingredients.

Is it time?
Is it resources?
Is it self-sabotage?
Do you not feel worthy and deserving?
Are you putting other people's needs before your own?
Do you not know because you're so disconnected from your body or from knowing what it needs?

Whatever the reason is, it's okay. I assure you that you're not the only one who has difficulty figuring this kind of thing out. In fact, that's one of the reasons why people hire me!

Wherever you are in your journey, please know that it's where you need to be right now. That doesn't mean that you need to stay there or that it's not possible for you to move from there. It simply means that you accept it. Remember, acceptance doesn't mean giving up. It simply means you're at peace with what is.

Valentine's Day is when we celebrate LOVE. Love for others and love for ourselves. That is the piece that many forget. I hope this love note helps you to remember this.

If no one has told you lately...
You are worthy and deserving of love from others and from yourself.

Happy Valentine's Day to the beautiful and amazing you!

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Want more? Read about the Self-Love Diet