This Valentine's Day Love the One You're With - Life Coach Millie Grenough Asks Who Will Be Your Valentine?

    STAMFORD, CT, February 10, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- While Christmas is barely a memory, the stores turn red with Valentine hearts and flowers and candy. We all know with anticipation and frequently with trepidation that Valentine's Day is only a few weeks away. We have wondered going back to nursery school who will be my Valentine or will I even have a Valentine? Then we wonder will my Valentine remember to do anything special?

Traditionally it's about giving someone a dozen long-stem roses or a box of handmade truffles or even a sexy negligee. But that often brings dread to even the most secure. Does this sound familiar? More worries than they are worth, according to life coach and author Millie Grenough.

Life is difficult enough these days and our stressors increase by the nanosecond in anticipation of this annual ritual. So why not try this year to celebrate Valentine's Day the Grenough way. "This Valentine's Day make your special someone you," invites Grenough. "Unfortunately, we often forget to celebrate ourselves and how truly special we are. Maybe this year we can eliminate all the baggage that always comes with Valentine's Day and just focus on ourselves."

Grenough is the author of OASIS In The Overwhelm which offers "60-second strategies for balance in a busy world." She encourages us to do something special that we have been putting off doing because either we don't have the time or we just haven't had the opportunity. Maybe some one wants to read a new novel that just came out in paperback or go to an exercise class or maybe have a facial using the vegetables that are already in our refrigerator. The possibilities are endless!

"In this world most of us are always worried about doing the right thing and those who are not worrying about doing the right thing are probably just plain tired of doing the right thing." Grenough continues, "Yet when it comes to doing the right thing for ourselves we seem to never have the time or the energy. Maybe this year we can celebrate something far more simple -- being loving to ourselves."

When one follows the steps simply outlined in Grenough's OASIS book ........

Step 1: Give your mind a break
Instead of focusing on all the things that you're worried about, or that you wish you had that you don't have, give your mind a treat. Shake those worries out. Leave room for beauty. Try bathing your mind in luxurious rose petals. Choose whatever color you want. Really see those petals coming in to give you Valentine greetings. Let the petals softly caress you. Take a few easy breaths to enjoy the bouquet.

Step 2: Give your body a break
Right now, wherever you are, say a soft "Hello" to your body. Look at your right hand, ripple your fingers, then stretch your arm out as far as it can go. Reach for the ceiling, the treetops. Now your left hand, fingers and arm - reach for the sky - wave your fingers. Now feel your feet under you -- wiggle your toes. No matter how old you are, or whatever limitations you may have, celebrate what you are able to do. Decide on something special you will do with your body today - maybe a leisurely walk, or a luxurious facial right in your own kitchen, or a long warm bath...

Step 3: Change your brain
Let your brain go right now to the gratitude channel. Isn't it amazing that you have a body that can do all these marvelous things? Later today if you find yourself focusing on all the things that are wrong, or thinking about things you wish you had that you don't have, get off that not-enough channel. Switch to the I'm here - I'm alive - I'm quite marvelous channel.

Step 4: Celebrate
A couple of times today, celebrate by going to your marvelous channel. When you're on that channel, you may even want to write yourself a love note. Put down at least three things that you appreciate about yourself. Sign off with a loving message, put your note in an envelope, address it to yourself - at work or at home - stamp it, and walk to the mailbox to send it off with love. You'll be glad to get the loving reminder next week.

Who knows? Maybe after doing these simple, loving things for yourself, you'll feel so good that you'll decide to invite someone else to have the same kind of loving Valentine.

Treat yourself to an OASIS Valentine and change your channel. Find more practical and simple strategies in Grenough's book OASIS in the Overwhelm, available at www.milliegrenough.com or www.amazon.com.

MILLIE GRENOUGH, Coach, Speaker, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, is the author of OASIS in the Overwhelm: 60-second strategies for balance in a busy world and OASIS in the Overwhelm 28 Day Guide: Rewire Your Brain from Chaos to Calm and OASIS en la Adversidad.

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