Expressing Love
The Holiday of Love is here. Many of us have been taught that jumping through hoops for our beloved with grand gestures and surprises is the way to express love this time of year. Pulling out all the stops can be enjoyable and exciting. Let’s not lose sight of the expansive expression of love and the meaningful gestures that touch us.
Expand the Celebration of Love
Valentines Day can be a great time to celebrate love between partners. Don’t let me stop you! In addition, it can be a time to think about all the ways you give and receive love throughout the year. Consider familial love, friendship or platonic love. Sharing love with our furry friends and giving nature a big hug is also important. And don’t forget about self-love!
Express Gratitude
To make the most of Valentines Day, show your partner how much you care. Studies have found that giving to others makes us happier than spending time and money on ourselves. And there is research that shows giving as a way to express gratitude is likely to reflect positively toward you. Don’t overlook small gestures. Asking about your partner’s day and really listening can let them know they matter. Anticipating a need or doing something that is unexpected, like unloading the dishwasher or putting the kids to bed can go a long way.
Giving can be Simple
Giving to our loved ones doesn’t need to cost a lot of money or be extravagant. In fact, one of the most meaningful ways to express love is to thank those special someones for being themselves. Wow! Let that wash over you for a second. “I can be loved just for being me?” That’s powerful stuff. Expressing appreciation or pointing out their qualities that light you up will be a gift that keeps on giving.
Get in Touch
Touch can be a powerful expression of love in many ways. With consent and within the context of the relationship, touch can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the system that calms and relaxes the body. It can help shift the mood, creating connection. Under specific conditions, touch can create arousal. When it is welcomed, touch can be very meaningful.
Take the time to celebrate love in all its forms and with all of those that mean so much to you. While chocolate and flowers are beautiful gifts, think about how grateful you are for your loved ones. Can you put your gratitude into words or with touch (always with consent)? After all, love connects us, sustains us and is worth celebrating.