Your Magenta Monday Magic.
It’s the time of the year when you may find yourself celebrating Valentine’s Day with your partner, going out for Galentine’s day with your friends, or even letting both occasions slip by with little more attention than an eye roll. Regardless of your position on February 14th, there is a way to pause for a celebration that requires nobody other than yourself. 😚
What does that have to do with being brave? Well, if you’re like many other women, choosing to love yourself likely goes against everything you’ve ever been taught. In fact, it may feel downright terrifying to do so. 😨
As women, we become so heavily conditioned to focus on everyone else, that putting any energy into loving ourselves is considered selfish. This programming starts early – think back to when you were a young girl…. how many times did you hear that you were ‘conceited’ or ‘stuck up’ if you happened to say something nice about yourself?
Let’s face it, our programming runs deeeeeeeeep, and it’s aided and abetted by a society that is focused on physical appearance and obsessed with youth. It started from an early age – remember the days when your self-worth was directly impacted by how many Valentine’s day cards you got in grammar school or by the response of your childhood crush to your girlish declarations of affection? 👧
Back then, the clothes you wore, or how much you weighed, dictated whether you gained admission to the popular group or were relegated to the social sidelines throughout junior high and high school.
And don’t get me started on the media! It makes my blood boil that ‘beauty’ is defined as tall, thin, and (usually) blonde, and that beautiful, talented, and brilliant women are sidelined as soon as they pass the milestone of turning 40. It’s no wonder that as women in midlife, many of us adopt youth-chasing tendencies – striving for fewer wrinkles, the perfect nose, or larger, perkier boobs.
When you throw that lifelong messaging in a bowl and add the healthy dose of insecurity and overwhelm that accompanies midlife transition, you have the perfect recipe that yields an incapacity for being able to look in the mirror and tell yourself how beautiful you truly are … or an inability to see the incredible strength and resilience of your body so you can love and honor everything it’s done for you over the years. 🙅♀️
Monday Mindshift
It’s the 1° shift that makes the biggest difference over time.
Isn’t it time to return the favor and love yourself back? I mean, in a world fraught with challenges, wouldn’t it be nice if you could come home to yourself and feel love and acceptance for everything you’ve accomplished in your life and how far you’ve come? 🥰
It’s not easy to do – there is no magic pill to take or switch to flip that will erase the messaging you’ve been carrying around with you for decades.
Decades.
Learning to love yourself and prioritize your needs takes real courage. But you have to start somewhere. And just to be clear – this doesn’t mean that you tell your daughter you can’t help with a crisis because you are booked to have a massage. No. It simply means that you start to prioritize your needs along with the needs of all the other people you’ve been taking care of for years.
Maybe that will mean setting boundaries and saying things like, ‘I’m so sorry I can’t be there tonight’ or ‘that time doesn’t work for me, can we change it?’ Or it might mean asking for help, ‘Can you help me with the meeting by sending out an email confirming who’s bringing what?’
It might mean quieting that inner voice that cries out when you look in the mirror, ‘Ugh! Look at my wrinkles!’ or not blurting out, ‘OMG my legs!’ when you see a photo of yourself in a bathing suit. It might mean starting to choose healthy foods or scheduling that maintenance appointment you’ve been putting off. It could be a walk in the morning with one of your besties, or some dedicated morning reflection time to dream about what you want your life to look and feel like.
Regardless of how you’re spending Valentine’s Day, remember that being brave takes courage – a word derived from the Latin ‘cour’ or heart. There is a certain synchronicity in the fact that the symbol for Valentine’s Day – and for love – is a ❤️.
So, this February 14th, take a little time to show yourself some real love – whatever that looks like. Fill your tub up with bubbles, grab your favorite book, and hang the do not disturb sign on the door. Or take a quiet walk in nature or journal or paint. Whatever you choose, give yourself a hug – even if you don’t quite feel it yet – and tell yourself you love you. 🤗
Each time you do, you’ll move one tiny step closer to reconnecting with your authentic self.
Living BRIGHTer is...
B - Be Brave
R - Cultivate Relationships
I - Live with Intention
G - Practice Gratitude
H - Prioritize Health
T - Live your Truth
What is Magenta?
The color magenta is one of universal harmony and emotional balance. It is spiritual yet practical, encouraging common sense and a balanced outlook on life. Magenta helps to create harmony and balance in every aspect of life; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
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