For some of us, Valentine’s Day can be very anxious. We can obsess over whether the cutest guy in class will take us out or give us a card. Or, we may wonder whether or not we will get chocolates from someone. All of this can negatively devastate our self-esteem and make us feel bad. The good news is that we can control our anxiety. We can control how we will behave on Valentine’s Day. We can control whether or not we will have a good time on Valentine’s Day. And we can control what we will do and who we will go out with on Valentine’s Day. So there is a lot that IS under our control. Here are four tips to stop anxiety and enjoy Valentine’s Day, no matter what happens outside of our control.
1. Don’t worry if that cute boy will take you out or not. That’s not something you can control. So relax and make your own plans to enjoy the day. Plan an outing for yourself at your favorite cafe or take yourself for a manicure or pedicure.
2. Don’t rely so much on being happy for one day that it makes you miserable for a week before and after. We have all been there. You all want everything to be perfect. But, most of the time, things just aren’t perfect. So, you have to decide to be happy because it is a day of love and compassion.
3. Enjoy the true essence of the day. The day is for love and to express love. So why not do that anyway? Be kind to everyone you meet. Spread good cheer by doing a good deed for several people and smile. People will want to hang out, and who knows, you might even get a date with that cute guy.
4. Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s no better way to have a bad day than when you want to be as popular or gorgeous as one of your friends, but you just can’t live up to their image. You are only who you are. Celebrate that and don’t worry about being like everyone else. Not only is it a waste of time, but it also sets you up to be self-critical, which can hurt your self-esteem and how you feel in general.
So this Valentine’s Day, do something different. Decide that you will have fun no matter what. Don’t prepare yourself to be unhappy or anxious. It’s just one day, and you can enjoy it. So, make this Valentine’s Day the best ever. Who knows, maybe your attitude and behavior will be contagious and you will show others how to have fun too.