Each year during the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, everyone becomes hyper-aware of their relationship status. Singles begin planning what friends they are inviting over, those with partners begin thinking about the perfect gift, and those in-between get cold sweats thinking about the implications of the weekend. The more pink hearts that show up in coffee shop windows and cheesy gifts lining the grocery store displays the easier it is to think about our ability to be loved.
The struggle to define our worth and to feel worthy of love from not only others, but ourselves as well, is one that far too many people have dealt with and deal with currently. Unfortunately, not too many people talk about it. This Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to take the time to think about all the reasons to love yourself and all the things that don’t define your worth. It’s time to start believing and embracing that you are loveable, no matter how you identify, no matter your past, no matter your relationship status. We asked people from the So Worth Loving community and the Oregon State University community to tell us how they define worth and why they are worthy of love. Grab some inspiration from their powerful words:
“I am worthy of love because I am more than all the trauma I endured, I am more than my troubled past, I am more than all the bad that has happened to me. My worth is not defined by those who have hurt me. I am stronger than I believe and I am worthy of love, especially from myself. “ -Samantha
“I am so worth loving, because I have felt unloved. I have been at the point in my life where I didn’t think things would look up. But then I found SWL, and realized that NO MATTER WHAT I do, who I am, or what I’m doing in my life, I am worthy of so much love!” -Kaylee
“I am worthy of love because I am perfectly imperfect. I am worthy of loved from not only other people but from myself because my worth is not defined by my anxiety, my past mistakes, or my relationship status.” -Katherine
“I am so worth loving, because I have dedicated my time to spreading love to myself and others in a society that focuses too much attention on shortcomings and a perceived ‘selfishness’ of desiring love. I am so worth loving because I fell into that trap, and spent too much time depriving myself of love.” -Alexis
“I am worthy of love because there is only one of me! No one looks quite like me, has my exact experiences or laughs like me. I am one of a kind!” -Kara
“I am so worth loving because I am unique. I am a worthy of love because I am being myself instead of trying to be someone else. My worth is defined by my authenticity.” -Anonymous
“Worth to me means accomplishing things you are proud of, caring for others, and dedicating your life to what you are passionate about. I am so worth loving because I give my love to others by caring for my family, friends, and sorority sisters.” – Madeline
“Worthy is a heavy word. To battle with not feeling worthy, I often ask myself: “Would I speak to a child the way I speak to myself?” I am worthy of love from myself and from others because even if I make mistakes, I am doing the best that I can, and still deserve all the happiness possible.” – Erin
Take this Valentine’s Day and spend some quality time with yourself ’cause hey, you are so worth loving.
Check out the So Worth Loving blog to read more inspiring stories.
Photos by So Worth Loving