With Valentine’s day on the horizon, the reminder of love and relationships are everywhere to be found. Teddy bears and chocolates fill the shelves of stores while couples spread their affection for one another. Yet, with all of the love in the air there are also a large number of people who wish they had someone to share all of the love with but are currently alone and feel they will never be able to experience that.
Teenagers often get into relationships far too quickly due to the desire of fitting into societal standards. This can cause teens to accept any gesture and attention thrown their way even if it is not the right kind. They end up accepting behavior that hurts them or makes them feel bad just to feel like they are not missing out.
It is not okay to accept love that is less than what you believe you deserve. It is important to know your worth and choices as a person and to keep your standards high.
Allowing yourself to accept less than what you deserve is due to low self-esteem. When people decide that their own value is not sufficient they start to believe that poor treatment is all they can expect from others. However, healthy love is not something earned by changing who you are or tolerating any form of mistreatment.
Healthy love is something that everyone deserves to experience in life. It is essential to keep in mind that before you begin to take that first step into a relationship you need to be content with yourself. No one knows you better than yourself.
Instead of getting wrapped up in the Valentine’s madness maybe focusing on who you really are, without relying on someone else to provide you comfort would be good. Once you are comfortable in your own skin no one can take that power from you.
However, if you still go the relationship route, make sure to set those boundaries and recognize that building happy scenes depends on confidence and communication.
According to Psychologytoday.com, “those who practice self-respect and assertiveness experience more positive connections and greater satisfaction in their relationships.” Loving yourself should come before anyone else.
If you ever find yourself pondering and questioning whether your relationship is worth putting effort into, that is an issue. Wait until you are ready.
You should have fun while being in a relationship. It should not be dampening your life in a negative way. Know that you deserve the world and if someone does not come along that checks off your standards give it time because you will encounter someone that will.
You deserve a partner who is sincere and trustworthy because your principles and potential are greater than you realize.
