5 ways to Romance YourSELF 💕

I want to give you a note of encouragement and inspiration to love and romance yourSELF.

SELF love is necessary and sacred, so never feel guilty for taking time to show yourSELF compassion and kindness. I capitalize SELF because I'm referring to your highest SELF - the SELF that is your true essence, connected to all beings and residing within you. This SELF within you is the same SELF within everyone else, just in different disguises. I specifically mention this to show and emphasize that real SELF love isn't selfish. The more we love our SELF, the more we love all living things - which is actually the opposite of selfishness, its generosity.

So get lovey with yourSELF! Here are a few ideas 💕

1. Take yourSELF on a date! 👩‍❤️‍👩 Whether it's to a coffee shop, a store for some retail therapy or to a park to connect with nature - put it on your calendar and soak up some quality time with yourSELF. I love going to a bookstore and reading passages from random books, typically with uplifting messages or poetry (or plant based cookbooks haha!). Or recently I'll find a river or stream and stand in it with my bare feet (even when it's cold outside!) - physically connecting to the earth and water helps me connect to my SELF. It's cleansing and grounding - and I just found out today from my chiropractor that water increases alpha waves which promote creativity and release stress. So give it a try! 🌊🌳

2. Get Artsy!💃🎨🎵📸📖 Create something - like a painting, drawing, make a mandala, color, write a song, take some photos, dance, free write (write whatever comes to your mind), write a poem, journal - dive into whatever form of expression calls you. Un-limit yourself through creativity, enjoy the process and release the desire to judge the outcome.

3. Take a bath. 🛀 Try making it luxurious by putting some dried or fresh flowers in your bath - like rose, lavender or calendula.🌺🌹 Or get spicy! My friend in India swears by turmeric baths saying it cleanses the aura. I took one while I was there and felt like I was floating on a cloud afterward. 😄 Put a couple of tablespoons of turmeric in your bath and don't wash the turmeric off afterwards. Just make sure to use a dark towel to dry off, and wear dark clothes so the turmeric doesn't leave stains. 💛

4. Get or give yourself a massage.🤗 i.e. treat yo-self to some healing touch. Abhyanga is an ayurvedic massage you can give yourself and is meant to move the lymphatic fluid and detoxify the body. To do this, warm up some oil, like coconut, olive or almond. With gentle, circular motions toward your heart, start with your scalp, massaging a generous amount of oil EVERYWHERE from your head to your toes. Don't forget your ears and bottoms of your feet - they contain pressure points for your whole body. If you live in a cold climate, make sure the space where you do this is warm so you don't feel rushed and your muscles can relax. Once you're finished, take a warm (not hot) shower and use minimal soap and scrubbing. Leave the oil in your hair if you can for a deep condition. Traditionally, this is practiced every morning
(before food) - so consider adding this as a SELF love ritual you revisit often. Enjoy!! 🙏

5. Write a love letter to yourself. 🥰 This one is POWERFUL! 💪 Address your current self or your inner child. Get as sentimental and gooey as you need while you write, and be patient with yourself through this process - it might be uncomfortable at first. Take your time and choose a tranquil, safe space where you won't be interrupted. And if you want to go all the way, read your letter aloud while looking at yourself in the mirror. Let go of any judgement and simply observe all the feelings which arise. Do this exercise as frequently as you need. (side note : after drafting this email, I got a fortune cookie that very night which said I was going to receive a letter from someone very soon - I think that someone is me!) 🥰

You deserve unconditional love, especially from yourSELF. So I sincerely hope you carve out time to romance yourSELF - because you're worth it. 💕

love, Sarah