Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Recovery

For most people, Valentine’s Day is about buying heart-shaped boxes of candy and flowers for those who express love. However, some people do not share those warm and fuzzy feelings on this day of love. You do not have to be “in love” with another person to express love on Valentine’s Day. This month may be a hard one to acknowledge love and how that pertains to you. However, Valentine’s Day can be a day of celebrating you and your love for yourself!

This blog will explore healthy ways to love yourself – not just on Valentine’s Day but every day. Additionally, it will dive into positive tips to celebrate your accomplishments in recovery and explore ways that Restoration Recovery can be of assistance to lead you to love yourself.

How Do I Love Myself on Valentine’s Day?

You can explore unique ways to love yourself, no matter where you go. Step into your local gift store and you will likely find self-help books and manifesting rose quartz. Scroll through social media and you will find an influencer discussing their findings on self-love. However, addictive traits, trauma, anxiety, and/or depression can make self-love easier said than done, especially on Valentine’s Day. 

There are many things that you can do to love yourself daily, not just on Valentine’s Day. Just as you know recovery is not a destination but a practice, the same goes for self-love. Each day it will look different than the previous day; however, you can make it just as you want it to be. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that you can take to love yourself. You have to practice loving yourself, daily.  You can start by practicing the following:

• Stay grateful by practicing daily gratitude.
• Identify your feelings/emotions.
• Be honest with yourself.
• Surround yourself with positive support.
• Acquire an individual therapist to guide you.

It can be difficult to stop and recognize that Valentine’s Day is not just about celebrating love for others, but more importantly yourself. You have come a long way in your journey of recovery, and it is important to celebrate you – not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by Staying on a Routine

Any holiday can be a trigger to reflect on past events or to stay in a space of pity for yourself. This is one of the many reasons that it is important to stay on your routine. Your daily routine will assist you in offering you predictability throughout your day, which is essential to help keep you on track. 

Valentine’s Day may be a stressful day for you, but by being on a routine, you can reduce the amount of idle time that you have, and, therefore, decrease stress. Placing recovery on the top of your priority list means scheduling activities that are a part of it. For example, on Valentine’s Day, you could attend an extra 12-Step program meeting. Staying in routine does not mean just for one day; it could mean that it is a part of your routine to add an extra meeting when you are stressed out.

Self-love teaches you to do what is good for you, and however you choose to navigate, is up to you. Routine is a great start to learning how to celebrate you on Valentine’s Day.

Start Your Tradition on Valentine’s Day

You do not need a fancy day of the year to celebrate love for yourself. Exploring what fills your “love cup” daily can be the start of the gift of a new tradition for you. Your recovery can be anything that you want it to be. You are in control of how you navigate your recovery. This is an exciting time to start a new tradition that you can be proud of. 

No one has to know about this new tradition, or you have the freedom to get others on board. You can choose how you want your new tradition to be observed. Some ideas to get you started include:

• Write a letter to yourself of all the ways that you love.
• Plant a tree in honor of your growth.
• Volunteer at your local animal shelter to spread love.
• Read to the elderly.
• Write a poem to celebrate self-love on Valentine’s Day.
• Practice self-compassion.

Cultivating a new tradition brings a sense of purpose and fun. Whilst others are celebrating their love for each other, you are bringing a space of encouragement to your life. 

Connection at Restoration Recovery

At the center of love is connection. Self-love connects you to yourself and brings a space of contentment and peace. At Restoration Recovery, we thrive on the space of connection and believe that it fosters a point of growth in recovery. When you can connect with others, awareness surfaces and vulnerability is visible. You are not alone in this journey, and Restoration Recovery is here to support you every step of the way.

Valentine’s Day does not have to be about proclaiming your love for your significant other. This is a day about connection and self-love. Perhaps you have never thought about Valentine’s Day from that perspective. Or maybe you have struggled with the concept of loving yourself. Either way, Restoration Recovery is here to lift you. We believe in you and want to guide you to connecting with others and learning to love yourself – flaws and all. If you or someone you know is struggling with loving themselves in recovery, please do not hesitate to give us a call at (888) 290-0925. Our staff is ready to answer any of your questions.