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Do You Want to Feel Special and Loved this Valentine’s Day?

By: Julie.S February 14, 2024

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate the great romantic love in your life, if you have one. Truthfully, every day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those you love.

I’d like to encourage you to consider celebrating self-love today as well. Because, truly, that’s where it all begins.

How can you be kind to yourself today? Perhaps you can start by taking today off from self-judgment and criticism, especially if you’ve been beating yourself up for not having a love interest. There are many reasons that you may be choosing singlehood right now and being on your own gives you the time to take the best care of yourself. Keep in mind that self-love and self-acceptance are very attractive, and when you’re ready, you’ll call in just the right partner.

If your love relationship is currently on the rocks or you’re just coming out of something that wasn’t working, perhaps you can spend some loving time with yourself today and journal about where you’re at and where you’ve been. Self-love demands self-compassion and self-connection and that means taking the time to explore your emotions, needs and thoughts.

What can you do for yourself today to feel special and loved?  When was the last time you bought yourself flowers or treated yourself to a day off with your feet up?  If you’re an overeater or over-spender, see if you can find a non-food, non-shopping way to honor yourself. How about a candle-lit bubble bath? Or dancing to your favorite music? Or staying up late watching a movie or reading a great book?

There’s no need to let this Hallmark generated day make you blue. There’s a wonderful, incredible being, staring back at you in the mirror, just waiting to be celebrated. All you need is love.

Wishing you a wonderful, self-loving Valentine’s Day.

Posted by Julie M Simon, MA, MBA, MFT, psychotherapist and life coach, certified personal trainer, founder and director of The 12 Week Emotional Eating Recovery Program and author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual and When Food Is Comfort. If you have a question or topic you’d like to see addressed in this blog, go to https://overeatingrecovery.com.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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“Through working with Julie, I gently and gracefully was able to address the real reasons for my overeating, which had nothing to do with hunger. She helped me get in touch with those places deep inside that in the past I was afraid or unwilling to address. This underlying anxiety, depression and pain that I wasn't even aware of was triggering me to eat compulsively, to cover up the pain. Julie's work is so brilliant at giving me tools to work with myself, ways to be gentle with myself, and ways to comfort myself without using food. To this day, I use Julie's work to continue to heal my experiences with food and my body.” –Arriane Alexander, Actress/Singer

"I never connected with my true emotions until I started seeing Julie. Before I started working with her I certainly knew on a surface level what emotions were, but Julie gave me the tools to actually tap in and feel all the feelings I had been avoiding my entire life. My work with Julie was the first time in my life that I was able to truly connect with myself and understand the big picture of how emotions interplay with eating. Julie's compassion, knowledge and empathy helped me to realize that a lifetime of beating myself up for overeating was simply one that I was not willing to live anymore, and she helped me to break a cycle that I had almost resigned myself to living with for the rest of my life. With so much clutter in the dieting and self-help world, I feel blessed to work with someone whose approach is nothing short of life-changing." –Laurie B., Attorney

"Julie, Thank you Thank you Thank you! Working with you has helped me in ways I didn't at first imagine. I first came for a specific issue and stayed for the whole me! My connection with you was so instantaneous. I felt immediately understood, which was a big thing for me. With your knowledge and gentle loving guidance, I've been able to understand myself and my life and make new choices, blossoming in ways that bring such clarity and peace to my life. I am finally able to really be the person I always wanted to be - happy, healthy both physically and emotionally, feeling truly grounded and connected in my life. Working with you has enhanced my life and I am grateful beyond words." –M. K., Film & TV Producer

"After years of yo-yo dieting and fruitless therapy, I was lucky to find Julie and her unique approach to dealing with emotional eating that addresses imbalances in body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Julie has a talent for zeroing in on the issues underlying problems. She has guided me through some very challenging times and facilitated my personal growth. Julie possesses a keen intellect, coupled with warmth, caring, compassion, patience, and a wisdom that makes her truly remarkable." –J.N

“Julie—being in groups and classes and individual therapy with you has been life-saving. I’ve been in therapy before, but nothing has ever been this helpful and transformative. You’ve helped me put together all the broken pieces from a dysfunctional childhood. You’ve been a wonderful, nurturing and inspiring guide and you are a living, breathing example of what true recovery looks like. Thank you.” –C.G., Actress and Mother

"You offered more than I could have expected. I have done W.W., O.A. and J. Craig. But I always ended up in the same place. Now I know why. Thank you for showing me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and hope for recovery. Your program was really great, useful and revelatory! It was an opportunity for many “firsts” in my long journey of self-discovery. Thanks for being my angel." –J. L., Attorney and Mother

"I've been struggling nearly all my life with this overeating issue. I've tried all the diets and exercise programs. I couldn't get a handle on my compulsive eating until I attended this Program. Oh My God, I've learned so much and gained so much insight and new tools. I've already lost over 15 lbs and it's easier than it's ever been. I can now truly understand how addressing the deeper issues helps to effortlessly release the weight. And I'm not so afraid anymore of addressing those issues. This Program taught me how to do that and the Follow-Up group is helping me practice my new skills. And correcting the physical imbalances I had really made it even that much easier. Thank you Julie for all that you do." –K. W., Writer/Artist

"Julie, Thank you Thank you Thank you! Working with you has helped me in ways I didn't at first imagine. I first came for a specific issue and stayed for the whole me! My connection with you was so instantaneous. I felt immediately understood, which was a big thing for me. With your knowledge and gentle loving guidance, I've been able to understand myself and my life and make new choices, blossoming in ways that bring such clarity and peace to my life. I am finally able to really be the person I always wanted to be - happy, healthy both physically and emotionally, feeling truly grounded and connected in my life. Working with you has enhanced my life and I am grateful beyond words." –S. H., Therapist/Nurse

"An incredible amount of most helpful information for the money! The most inspiring and motivating part was your authenticity and sharing from your heart. I thought I knew all there was to know with years of therapy, but you really pulled everything together for me." –C. W., M.B.A., Financial Analyst

"Julie, what a wonderful, enlightened, incredibly smart woman you are. Thank you so much for all that you are and all your tools and teaching are making of me. I finally can see an end to overeating and dieting." –P.K.

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