What’s your take on self-love and self-love rituals?
For years, I found myself caught in a never-ending cycle of prioritizing to-do lists, obligations, massive goals, and everyone else around me while neglecting the most important aspect of my life—myself.
Like so many of us, self-love took a backseat to everything else I had going on until one day, I looked in the mirror and couldn’t even recognize the woman staring back at me.
Yet if you had asked me about self-love then, I would have laughed.
I would have told you that I simply didn’t have the time.
Or that I was too busy managing my business and handling life’s demands.
Or that honestly, it really wasn’t that important.
Boy was I wrong.
Thankfully, life has a way of nudging us in the right direction, and for me, it took some serious hormone issues and an autoimmune diagnosis, along with constantly feeling drained, frumpy, and unworthy, to realize the vital importance of attuning to my body.
Ultimately, I discovered the self-love rituals I’m about to share with you!
But first, I want to address something that’s been on my mind a lot lately as we approach Valentine’s Day…
The Selflessness Myth
Most women—myself included—have been conditioned to prioritize others’ needs above our own, especially when it comes to “selfless” holidays like Valentine’s Day.
We wear so many hats – as mothers, partners, professionals, and caregivers – and often put ourselves last.
Selflessness might be an admirable quality, but when self-neglect becomes the norm, it makes it even harder to show up for those we love and can lead to a host of health issues you’d never expect…
Research shows that chronic stress (which is a direct result of neglecting self-love) can wreak havoc on our bodies. It can trigger hormonal imbalances, weaken the immune system, and even slow down our metabolism.
And the chain reaction can eventually lead to a distorted self-image and low self-esteem.
Which makes it even harder to show up for others—let alone ourselves.
Think of it this way:
You’re on an airplane, and the oxygen masks drop down. The first rule is to secure your mask before helping others. Why? Because you can’t effectively assist others if you’re struggling to breathe. The same principle applies to self-love – taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s essential.
This is a wake-up call we all need to hear!
So what can we do to show up for ourselves—without overdoing it or becoming overly selfish—so that we can start showing up for others as our best version?
My 5 Self-Love Rituals for More Energy, Intimacy, and Happiness
The 5 self-love rituals I’m about to share have become DAILY non-negotiables in my life.
I’ve fully ingrained them into my routine over the past couple of years and they’ve without a doubt helped me transform into a more vibrant, energized, and joyful version of myself.
Not just for me—but for my family, friends, partner, and all of you.
Putting them into practice is EASY and they will make an immediate impact on your health, energy, relationships, and well-being.
Let’s jump in.
Self-Love Ritual #1 — Vocalizing Powerful, Intentional Affirmations Every Morning and Evening
Affirmations hold incredible power when vocalized out loud. They have the ability to shape your mindset, repattern your beliefs, and alter your life’s course.
If you’ve battled the same-old narrative that you must do everything on your own and that you’re solely responsible for yourself, now’s the time to start repatterning that belief.
I’ll admit that this mindset served me well in my younger years, it no longer does. It still surfaces from time to time, especially during challenging moments when I feel overwhelmed and burdened.
So to combat this, I’ve developed a series of affirmations that rescue me from the grip of my old narrative.
Whenever that story resurfaces, I take three deep breaths and repeat:
“I am fully supported in all areas of my life; everything is working out for me.”
This affirmation reminds me that I don’t have to carry the load alone and that the universe is on my side. I often follow it up with: “I choose to release the outcome and feel good,” emphasizing the importance of letting go and maintaining a positive outlook.
Other affirmations I cherish include, “It feels good to feel good” and “Good things come easily.”
These affirmations help me maintain a positive attitude throughout the day, especially when I lean on them during challenging moments.
This simple course can help you create your own affirmations.
What affirmations would work for you and your unique situation?
Write them down and repeat them daily!
Self-Love Ritual #2 – Morning and After-Dinner Walking
Walking has become an essential part of my daily morning routine. I LOVE it!
I make it a point to walk every day, sometimes multiple times, with a special place in my heart and soul for my morning walk.
There are two reasons why you should walk in the morning:
- Not only is it a good idea to start your morning with an act of self-love, but it’s also when you’re at your peak energy levels. Starting your day with movement and feel-good energy sets a positive tone for the hours ahead.
- Walking in nature each morning is an incredible experience. It aligns your circadian rhythm, wakes up your mitochondria, boosts your metabolism, provides a dose of vitamin D, and allows you to connect with the beauty of the natural world.
I also recommend incorporating an after-dinner walk to help stabilize your blood sugar levels. This practice can significantly impact your emotional, mental, hormonal, and metabolic well-being.
If you’ve been looking for an easy way to move your body that gives you the MOST return on your time and energy—this is it.
Self-Love Ritual #3 – Weight Training and Regular Movement
Physical activity, particularly weight training, is mission critical.
Maintaining muscle mass isn’t only good for your metabolic health, but it can also dramatically improve your brain function and ward off diseases like Alzheimer’s. It also helps you keep your energy levels (and libido) up—which is crucial once you hit perimenopause.
The key point here isn’t to hit the gym and lift as much weight as possible.
It’s to engage in light to moderate resistance training exercises 4-5 times per week for 20-30 minutes and ensure you get lots of movement every day, like walking, dance, core workouts, yoga, or biking.
Aim to start small and light and work your way up.
Always listen to your body!
This is the BEST WAY to reduce stress and stay balanced.
Self-Love Ritual #4 — Nourishing Your Mind and Body with Hormone-Loving Nutrients
Supplementation is a critical aspect of ANY self-love routine.
If you’re not filling in the nutrient gaps that your diet can’t provide (like magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin D, etc.), then how do you expect to stay on your game feeling your best?
Naturally, the more depleted of hormone-loving nutrients you become, the less energy you’ll have.
And we all know how that cycle goes.
Plus, even if you eat right and maintain a healthy diet, you’re still not getting everything you need—which is where supplements come in.
Here are the top six that I recommend:
- Magnesium to ensure healthy muscle, heart, brain, and overall body function. It can also help with stress, anxiety, and sleep—all musts for any self-love enthusiasts!
- B Vitamins to support your overall cellular energy, nervous system, and metabolic health. B vitamins play crucial roles in brain health, blood circulation, and blood sugar balance.
- Vitamin D to keep your mood up, hormones working properly, and immune system humming.
- Collagen to help repair your nails, skin, joints, and even aid in memory and brain function.
- Omega 3’s for a healthy heart, brain, and lymphatic system.
- Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics to optimize your gut, improve digestion, and even boost your mood and metabolism.
As a bonus, I always recommend pairing your morning supplements with a green hormone-loving smoothie made with your favorite protein powder. Getting ample protein and greens throughout your day can make all of the above work better.
Self-Love Ritual #5 – Gratitude Journaling for 5 Minutes Per Day
This is one of the most well-known and yet most consistently overlooked self-love rituals. Don’t be fooled by the hype.
Gratitude journaling works!
It takes just five minutes, but can have a profound impact on your day. Journaling helps you get in touch with your authentic self, assess your feelings, and process any negative emotions fast, so you can get clear and intentional for the day ahead.
Gratitude is one of the purest emotions you can experience…
And when you remind yourself every day what you are thankful for (your health, your body, and your family, etc.), you begin to cultivate that level of emotion more often throughout your day (and life).
And the benefits are limitless:
- Reduced pain
- Better relationships and intimacy
- Increased self-reliance
- More restful sleep
- Enhanced self-worth and body image
- And much more.
By taking just a few minutes each morning to express gratitude, set intentions, and recite affirmations, you can change your perception of the world and influence your energy and desires throughout the day.
This is the journal I use every day.
Why I Used to Have Valentine’s Day ALL Wrong
As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s important to acknowledge that this is a time when we often neglect ourselves the most.
Because I don’t know about you, but I used to be HARDCORE.
To me, Valentine’s Day (and the entire year to a lesser extent) was ALWAYS about everybody else. My family; my coworkers; my friends; my husband… You name it.
How could I show up for them in the best way possible?
That’s all I ever thought about.
And while my heart was in the right place, I totally neglected myself in every way imaginable and it started taking a massive toll on my health.
This utter lack of self-love turned into:
- Me being stressed and burnt out
- Hormone chaos
- 30+ pound weight gain
- Autoimmune issues
- Slowed metabolism
- And more
You’d be surprised how quickly NOT loving yourself can lead to being overstressed and living in survival mode—which ultimately zaps your energy, attacks your immune system, and creates dis-ease in the body.
Let this be a reminder to show off for YOU this month, too.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As you consider which rituals resonate with you…
Remember that self-love is an essential FIRST step toward healing—and you are absolutely worthy of it. Embracing these rituals will enable you to show up in all the ways for your family, friends, and most importantly—for yourself.
Wishing you a lovely Valentine’s Month!
Get My Morning Self-Care Guide!
You are the CEO of your life, so every choice you make should support who you are. If you are ready to get started, I have created the perfect Self-Care Wellness Ritual Guide with my favorite tips! Download Dr. Mariza’s Self-Care Guide Here
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