Remember to 鈥榣ove yourself鈥� this Valentine鈥檚 Day and don鈥檛 get preoccupied by unrealistic expectations of the perfect relationship, says a 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellor.
For many, the thought of February 14th conjures up images of romantic meals-for-two, elaborate bunches of flowers and couples sharing gifts and cards.
This can pile on pressure for both couples and those not in relationships.
But people shouldn鈥檛 rely on a partner to validate themselves, says Cate Campbell, a counsellor in Buckinghamshire.
And there are plenty of positive things about being single, she adds.
Look at all the people in your life
鈥淚f you鈥檙e single, look at all the people in your life. Friends are a great thing.
鈥淩ather than having unrealistic expectations of a relationship, think about the people in your life who are positive, who fulfil your needs. They are the important ones for you.
鈥淩emember to love yourself 鈥� and I don鈥檛 mean that in a narcissistic way,鈥� said Cate.
聽鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need someone else to validate yourself.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e relying on that, it can end up with you feeling very low. You may feel as if you鈥檙e being dismissed, they are not listening, that they don鈥檛 say the right thing. It鈥檚 often because we have these unrealistic expectations of a relationship or the other person.鈥�
Remember to 鈥榣ove yourself鈥� this Valentine鈥檚 Day, says 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellor Cate Campbell.
Cate says that sometimes people split up with their partners ahead of Valentine鈥檚 Day because of the pressure or anticipation surrounding relationships on February 14迟丑.听
Sometimes they feel it would be dishonest to continue and celebrate the day when they no longer want to be in the relationship.
But聽Cate says there is a positive way to look at break-ups.
聽鈥淚f you look at a relationship as a form of personal development, the breakdown of it actually means the relationship has been successful. People have developed and have got all they can out of the relationship. It鈥檚 time to stop."
Just a social construction
鈥淲hen people develop and grow together, the relationship keeps on. But if they develop in different ways, then it can be time to stop.
鈥淧eople have outgrown the relationship in its romantic form.鈥�
For those fed up of the over-hyped and over-commercialised build up to February 14th, whether they are single or in a relationship, Cate has an important reminder.
鈥淎t the end of the day, it鈥檚 just a social construction. Valentine鈥檚 is just another day.鈥�
To find a 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellor or psychotherapist to help you with relationships, visit our Therapist directory.