Love, Actually

February has a funny way of convincing us that love should come with roses, romantic speeches, or someone magically knowing what we need without us having to say a word (if that were true, therapists and life coaches would be out of business.) But real love — the kind that actually heals — is quieter, braver, and far more powerful. It’s choosing compassion over resentment, curiosity over judgment, and forgiveness over replaying old stories on a mental loop. Leading with love isn’t about being “nice.” It’s about being free.  Here’s the thing – this goes for every kind of love – romantic, friends and family, coworkers, fellow humans – everyone.

Here’s the sneaky truth about forgiveness: it’s not for them. It’s for you. Holding onto anger is like carrying a heavy backpack you never agreed to pack — exhausting, uncomfortable, and completely optional. When we forgive (ourselves included), we create space for joy, creativity, and those “oh wow, this feels great” moments that remind us we’re alive. Love isn’t passive; it’s an active, daily practice of choosing healing again and again — especially when it’s inconvenient and feels like sh#t.

If you want to live with a little more love this month, try this:

• Do one loving thing for yourself daily — a walk without your phone, a workout that feels good instead of punishing, or a nap without guilt (radical, I know).
• Practice the pause — when you’re triggered, ask “What would love do here?” before responding. Sometimes love says speak up. Sometimes it says walk away and drink water.
• Write a forgiveness letter you never send — get it all out, then rip it up dramatically. Very therapeutic.
• Create joy on purpose — music loud in the kitchen, laughter with friends, or doing something simply because it amuses you.

Leading with love also means reconnecting with your best self — the version of you that isn’t hustling for worth or replaying old mistakes. That self already knows how to trust, soften, and expand. One of my favourite reflections comes from Dr. Tara Brach’s TEDx talk, “Radical Acceptance.” She reminds us that healing begins when we stop fighting ourselves and meet our experience with compassion. Love, in this sense, isn’t something we earn — it’s something we allow.

This love month, let’s make love less about perfection and more about presence. Less about fixing, more about feeling. Less about proving, more about being. Lead with love — in how you speak to yourself, how you move your body, how you forgive your past, and how you show up today.

Healing doesn’t have to be heavy. Joy is allowed. And your best self? Is already here!

- Kim