"In the weeks following Valentine's Day, I ask friends and clients how they celebrated. While dinner out, chocolate, and flowers are common, handwritten cards leave the most lasting impact. Heartfelt words outlast wilted roses. People return to them, re-read them, and keep them for years. There is a reason for this. Feeling loved is essential for psychological well-being and physical health."
"So, how do we show ourselves love and acceptance in a culture that profits from our dissatisfaction? On my podcast, 7 On Sundays, a guest shared a deeply personal ritual that aided her recovery from bullying, an eating disorder, and an abusive relationship (episode 13, 2025). She shared, "I write a love letter to myself every night before bed, beginning with the words, I'm so proud of yo"
Handwritten cards and heartfelt words create durable reminders of being loved that people revisit and keep for years. Feeling loved is essential for psychological well-being and physical health. Emotional connection through close relationships supports resilience, protects physical health, and correlates with increased longevity (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Many people engage in harsh self-talk that becomes automatic and feels factual. A culture of comparison and cosmetic procedures increases pressure to correct perceived flaws (ASPS, 2024). Nightly self-directed rituals, such as writing a love letter to oneself, can build self-acceptance and provide ongoing feelings of love independent of others.
Read at Psychology Today
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