It’s Valentine’s Day. And whether you love it, loathe it, or just see it as an excuse for overpriced flowers, there’s one thing we can all get behind: kindness.
Not just kindness for others—but for ourselves, too.
The Buddhist practice of lovingkindness (mettā) isn’t just about sending good vibes to the people we already like. It’s about expanding kindness outward—even to those who rub us the wrong way. (Yes, even that one colleague. Even yourself on a bad day.)
It’s not about forcing warm, fuzzy feelings but about practising a different way of seeing—a gentle nudge toward patience, connection, and remembering that we’re all just doing our best.
The traditional lovingkindness meditation involves sending simple well-wishes to ourselves and others: to be happy, well, safe, and at ease. These are a starting point. As you develop the practice, you can vary the phrases as needed.
So, here’s an invitation. Read these affirmations and notice what lands with you:
- May I soften the way I speak to myself and notice when I’m judging others.
- May I assume people are doing their best with what they have—just as I am.
- When I’m struggling, may I remember that struggle is universal, and I am not alone.
- May I notice when I’m comparing myself to others and refocus on my own path.
- May I take care of myself so I can care more deeply for others.
- May I listen to my intuition and live with greater honesty.
- May I see, too, that I can be lazy, selfish, dishonest, arrogant, and hypocritical.
- May I give myself—and others—permission to be imperfect.
- May I move through the world with less rigidity.
- May I offer others the same space and grace I wish to receive.
- May I remember that I’m part of something bigger, and my patience makes the world a little softer.
Take a moment to sit with these words. Which one resonates with you?
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just about commercial expressions of love. It can also be an opportunity to practise patience, understanding, and generosity—for ourselves, for others, and for the world.
Happy Valentine’s Day! May you be well, happy, and open to the kindness around you.
