Why Yes, Today IS Valentine's Day - How Could You Tell?

If you’ve seen a billboard, heard a radio or TV commercial, been inside a store or even just poked your nose outside your front door in the last week, then you already know what today is. Did you know that, in addition to Valentine’s Day, it’s Galentine’s Day, Madly in Love with Me Day, International Flirting Week and National Week of Chastity? Heck, I’m feeling a bit whiplashed with those last two happening at the same time, aren’t you?

This day is fraught with so many emotions and expectations. For happy couples, it’s a celebration of their connection and commitment to each other, wrapped in feelings of love and joy. For unhappy couples, it’s a reminder of what they once had and don’t have now, and that can bring with it sadness, despair and a feeling of letting loved ones down. For those who aren’t part of a couple, it can feel like they’re an outcast in a sea of togetherness and aren’t living up to societal expectations.

Whether you’re coupled, uncoupled or somewhere in between, stop and remember this: today is a day, like any other day. We humans, with our big, overdeveloped brains, are the ones who imbue the day with meaning, expectation, and angst. And the good news is that we humans, with our big, overdeveloped brains, can choose how the day will affect us.

Love is an amazing drug that is created in the brain, as well as manufactured by social conditioning, cultural mores, and yes, even radio, TV and billboard advertising. Movies, TV shows and influencers tell us how it’s supposed to unfold, how it’s supposed to feel, and how it's supposed to make everything better. Love is very powerful, and here’s the secret – you are in charge of the love that you feel, which means you are very powerful, too! As you go through the day today, use your power for good.

Oh, you don’t know how to manufacture love inside your brain? Because it’s a chemical process involving neurotransmitters and hormones like oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, you can create feelings of love any time you want, just with your focus and a bit of practice. If you need some ideas, here are three podcast episodes that can help. The best part is, each one is less than 90 seconds long, so you’ll get ideas and have the whole rest of the day to play with them!

Are you yearning for love? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Do you have enough love? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Want to have more love in your life? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Love, whether it be romantic or platonic, can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. Even when you manufacture it for yourself, it provides a sense of connection, support, and security, which can help reduce stress and anxiety while boosting your happiness and sense of wellbeing. And if you lead a team, here’s a tidbit that’ll get you flowers and chocolates from them: recognition of their contributions to the success of your team makes them feel loved and appreciated, increasing their feelings of confidence, connection and self-worth. The same part of their brain lights up whether you give them a bonus or give them positive recognition.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day today by seeing how much love you can give. When you find out how good that feels I bet you’ll make every day Valentine’s Day.

Wags, Sandy Weaver, Program Director, Center for Workplace Happiness
Author of Happy Vet Happy Pet, The Original MBA, and co-author of The Happiness Recipe and The 28-Day Thought Diet

PS... Want the perfect way to start each day? Check out the Mind, Body, Soul Sessions podcast – something for your whole self, for just $7 per month.