On February 14th, millions of people take special effort to express their love and gratitude to their romantic partners in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Even though the holiday is not exclusive to those in a romantic relationship, Valentine’s Day can be an embarrassing reminder of what is missing from a single person’s life. It can also cause people in relationships to question how happy they are with their partner. This Valentine’s Day, instead of ignoring the holiday and feeling bitter or feeling like your expectations can’t be met, focus your attention on appreciating and loving yourself.

The relationship you have with yourself is the most important one you have because it affects all others; therefore, it is critical to actively take care of yourself. People often neglect to monitor their emotional well-being and place themselves last on their list of priorities because they feel it is selfish. Concentrating only on others’ needs and failing to address your own can be detrimental to your mental and physical health as well as your interpersonal relationships. Possible health consequences include depression, anxiety and stress, a lowered immune system, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Additionally, giving too much of yourself in a relationship can cause you to lose your individuality and identity. Constant negativity from criticizing and judging yourself makes it difficult to build self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. Learning to truly love and accept who you are takes time and effort, but it will significantly improve your outlook on life. Remember, happiness is a choice, so it is up to you to be happy.