I don’t suggest having an endless supply of anything, but love is in the air this time of year and it’s an obvious exception.
I’m all about creating space and giving things away, so what can we do to cultivate an environment to receive love and an aptitude to pass it on this year?
1. Love YOU. Sure you can schedule a massage or a manicure, but I’m suggesting taking self-care a little deeper this time. Consider scheduling a therapy session with a mental health professional or a weekend away without electronics. Try talking to yourself with compassion instead of criticism for a week or practice being vulnerable with a friend you trust. Take a look around your home and pick a spot that can be all yours, even if it’s just a reading nook, and bring it to life with a piece of art, fresh flowers, and a soft blanket. Be selfish! We love others better when we love ourselves well.
2. Get Open. It’s common knowledge that we are wired for connection. Relationships are fun because they have the potential to bring us to life, but it’s true that opening up to joy can also open us to hurt. I’m going to suggest that being our authentic selves around people we trust is totally worth the joy and the pain. It’s growth, it’s connection, it’s what makes the world go ‘round. Curate your crew this year. Look for the people you aspire to be like, get around them, and learn from them. Include the people who love you just as you are but will challenge you to be better. You deserve friends like that.
3. Love Actually. There are a lot of definitions for love floating around, but we all know it when we see it and feel it. Try smiling and saying hello when you pass a stranger. Don’t ask someone how they’re doing unless you are truly curious and interested. Consider what’s below the surface of your moody co-worker and assume the best about your significant other. All of these ideas are easy to suggest, but I know that the more secure I am in my own value and worth and the more I practice vulnerability and connection with trusted friends, the more effortless it is to see the people around me as human beings worthy of love and connection as well.
If any of these tips sparked your curiosity and you decide to give them a try, show us a picture on Instagram of your reading nook, your crew, or a new connection using the hashtag #SusquehannaStyle and tag @susquehannastyle and @morespaceforlife.
