Giving yourself flowers is so good for your mental health! And you don’t have to be achieving big things to celebrate yourself.
So often, we wait for someone else to notice us and to acknowledge how far we’ve come, celebrate what we’ve accomplished, or remind us that we’re doing a good job. Giving yourself flowers means learning to do some of that for yourself too!
Here are 10 ways to start giving yourself flowers:
- Acknowledge what you survived to yourself and in therapy.
Part of giving yourself flowers is acknowledging what you’ve been through and allowing yourself to see how far you’ve come! You’ll be amazed at how much you’ve accomplished so it’s important to take the time to recognize that.
- Tell yourself the truth and release the negative self-talk.
The stories you tell yourself matters, especially the ones rooted in fear, shame, or old experiences. Not every thought deserves to become a belief. Tell yourself the honest truth about how you feel about yourself and what you want. Let go of any negative self-talk that’s preventing you from being who you are and how you want to be in this world.
- Rest without needing to earn it.
Coming home to yourself is how you gain the energy to keep going. Resting is good for your mind, body, and spirit!
- Celebrate your wins. Yes, even the small ones!
Not every win comes with an announcement, promotion, or milestone. Sometimes the win is setting a boundary, asking for help, trying again, or simply making it through a difficult week. Let those count too! Celebrate that you told yourself the truth, acknowledged how far you’ve come, and that you set a boundary. These things all matter, and recognizing them can help you feel happier about yourself in the long run.
- Trust your gut, even when it’s inconvenient.
You may think you want to do something, or someone may seem perfectly normal, but your gut tells you no. Trust it. Oftentimes, when you don’t trust it and realize later that you should have, you find yourself saying, “Damn, I wish I had listened to myself”.
- Choose people and places that feel safe.
This is so important to healing. You must be able to trust the people you’re surrounding yourself with. Choose people who feel safe and make you feel at home.
- Journal your thoughts and feelings.
Journaling can be one of the most therapeutic ways to support your healing and take care of yourself. Keep journaling and sharing what you’re going through. You’ll notice patterns and can discuss those in therapy and eventually you’ll get better at those things.
- Say no without over-explaining.
“No” is a complete answer. You don’t always need to build a case for your boundaries or convince someone else that your reason is good enough. Boundaries are so pivotal to honoring yourself and honoring the people you want to have a relationship with. You’re allowed to say no without feeling like you have to explain yourself over and over again.
- Allow yourself to play.
This is so important because when you play, you feel at ease. And when you feel at ease, you’re able to move through life and feel happy!
- Give yourself grace as you grow.
You will not be where you want to be today in five minutes. You need to allow yourself to grow through what you’re going through. Grace is one of the most helpful ways you can feel good about where you are and where you’re going next.
We hope these tips are helpful to you as you move through life. Give yourself flowers for all you’re doing, and for being you!