Wabe: Love yourself and the world will love you back

LOVE is in the air - music, chocolates, heart cakes, and flowers. Valentine’s Day, which is supposedly the most romantic day of the year, is just around the corner. Majority of those in a relationship scramble to pick up a gift or make efforts to plan something special for their significant other. Oh sweet!

On the flipside, there are those who feel fear or a bit of resentment towards spending this day alone. Team “sawi” (broken). I laughed so hard when I saw this anti-valentine meme: “Bakit ba may araw ng mga puso pero walang araw ng mga utak...andami tuloy tanga!” Indeed, a wise man can be a fool in love. Bitter truth or just plain bitter?

“Huwag maging tanga, bes (Do not be a fool).” Now is also the perfect time to remember that your relationship with yourself is also important, or perhaps even way more significant than any other relationship in your life. Nourish your relationship with yourself, too, because no one can pour from an empty cup. Let Valentine’s Day also be a reminder to prioritize your own needs and show yourself some self-love.

Speak kindly to yourself because you are always listening. Master the art of being comfortable alone. Being attuned to your own needs is not selfish. Self-care is a really important ritual for emotional health and general well-being. Many studies show that prioritizing your needs can help you manage the symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and more. And life is never easy so everyone needs to be at their best self to be able to live life to the fullest.

It is necessary to love yourself so you will always be attuned with your core values. You will fall prey to feelings of insecurity if you are constantly looking for others to love you and accept you. Be comfortable in your own skin, knowing you were not made for all the world to love and adore. If you need everyone or even anyone’s approval to feel loved, then you will most likely struggle in feeling good about yourself.

If you do not know your worth, you will have trouble coping with both denigration and adulation. If others decide you are worthless, there will be nothing to prevent you from swallowing their harsh, hurtful words as the truth, no matter how false and unkind those words may be.

Someone who seeks approval from an outside force will always be helpless in the court of public opinion, always asking others for what they think is acceptable, and always seeking external praise. At the same token, it will also be easy to drown in those praises, making it easy to neglect your inner barometer of values because you become intoxicated by the sweet words of adulation.

Thus, it is vital to accept, care for, and love yourself for all that you are. If you cannot love yourself, no one else will. This Valentine’s Day, remember to:

1. Create safe spaces for yourself.

2. Wrap yourself in goodness and warmth and love.

3. Stay surrounded by people who are genuine.

4. Think twice if you cannot trust them with your heart.

5. You are allowed to protect your peace.

6. Be mindful and aware of all the energy you allow into your life.

After all, there is only one you.