It’s something Yoga with Adriene says all the time during practices and it’s something that’s really stuck with me. “Inhale lots of love in. Exhale lots of love out.” And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner it seems only appropriate to unpack it.
One of my big goals this year is to focus on self love. I’ve been hard on myself over the years and 2018 has to be one of the worst in the books. It’s the year I finally got diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It’s the year I started going to therapy and started taking medication for those problems. It’s also the year I finally started to actively seek out things to improve my mental health. Yoga became one of those things.
I think it’s safe to say that yoga has done serious wonders for me over the past month. I’m more focused, centered, and actively trying to both inhale and exhale love. It’s become a mantra that I tell myself when I’m feeling stressed, anxious, or unmotivated. Love has to go inward before it can go outward.
My focus on self love has even seeped into my business and planning life. Last month’s sticker subscription was about treating yourself and self love. I’m throwing love into everything I do so that it surrounds not only myself, but the people around me as well.
I’ve changed my Erin Condren Life Planner cover to one with hearts and foil to remind me of the mantra constantly. To some I may be going a bit overboard with the self love thing, but it’s working for me. It’s keeping me focused on the positive and pushing away the negative. And that’s huge for someone with self-deprecating thoughts struggling with depression. So think what you may, but I’m going all in on this hearts and love everywhere business.
As I’m bringing a lot of love inward, I’m also trying to bring it outward as well. I’m obsessed with the Erin Condren Share the Love Journal because it’s full of prompts to write to a loved one. I have half a mind to get one of these for all the important people in my life. This little book has 50 different prompts to help articulate love in so many different ways. I’ve already started one for my husband Alex.
So yeah. That’s where I’m at on the self love front. It’s so easy to neglect yourself when your to do list is a mile long and so many other things are grabbing your attention. I’m done pushing myself to the side and letting my mental health slip. I’m going to continue to inhale lots of love in, and exhale lots of love out. And you should too.
