Today is St Valentine’s day. Mick bought me some beautiful roses yesterday and in his usual overly romantic Yorkshire way he said “Happy Valentine’s day” as he handed them over. ❤️

I want to talk about a different type of love today. Love as a strength. I have been talking with fellow coaches about strengths and interrogating which strengths I have been using in certain situations and there is a lot of love in there. Both love for others and love for myself.

VIA Institute On Character says “Love tends to facilitate tolerance, empathy, and forgiveness in relationships, which contribute to the health and longevity of those relationships. It is one of five strengths most associated with enhanced life satisfaction.”

Love for self is helpful to avoid the self criticism and shame which so often comes along with everyday challenges of living with an ADHD brain.

Love is the strength which is helping me to embrace my role as a carer and focus on enhancing the lives of my parents at this stage in our lives.

Love is a strength I call on regularly with clients and encourage them to feel for themselves and others. It can be helpful in reaching compromise at times of conflict.

How are you using your strengths?