The 5 Self-Love Languages: Physical Touch

Most everyone is familiar with the five love languages explained in the book by Gary Chapman. As I've been working with a therapist to heal from trauma, it occurred to me that self-care is self-love. So, I wanted to share some ideas on how to show self-love based on your love language. Because I want to keep things short and sweet (like a pineapple), I'll share a different post for each language. Previously, I shared about the self-love languages for Acts of Service and Gifts. Today's self-love language that I want to write about is "Physical Touch."

Physical touch between two people as an expression of affection can be easily accomplished. A hug, a hand squeeze, or a smile. Not everyone is attuned to physical touch as a means of affection, so if you need a kiss from your spouse or a hug from a friend, don't be afraid to ask for it.

Sometimes, we don't have a person from whom to ask for physical affection. Don't despair. There are still ways to show yourself self-love through physical touch. Our skin is full of sensory input. As a teenager, I loved wrapping myself up in a fuzzy blanket, finding a patch of sunshine, and reading a book. I think there are three sub-categories for us to examine more closely in self-love—texture, temperature, and pressure.

Texture -

I love going through the fabric store and feeling all the different materials. There are many textures that we can find to help soothe our souls. A big soft fleece blanket, silky pajamas, or holding a smooth rock in the palm of your hand. One of my favorite parts of doing my makeup is feeling the soft, fluffy brushes against my skin.

Not all textures are pleasurable. I wouldn't say I like lotion; I don't like the slimy, greasy film sitting on my skin. However, others may love that feeling of hydrated skin. Take notice of the textures you feel against your body throughout your day. Which textures bring you a sense of calm? Are there any that feel like the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard? Noticing which textures feel good or bad to you is an act of self-love.

Temperature -

I imagine most people prefer to be warm, so most of my examples will lean towards being warm. I love taking a hot bath while listening to an audiobook or cupping herbal tea in my hands. Something about being warm brings a sense of safety and comfort. Make yourself your favorite soup for lunch, and put on your oversized sweater. Pull on your fuzzy socks and get a heated blanket (or pull out the heating pad) while watching a movie. If you want to leave the house, find a local heated yoga class. Getting yourself to a comfortable temperature is an act of self-love.

Pressure -

I was introduced to weighted stuffed animals when I started therapy a few months ago. I purchased this Koala for myself. I chose to keep his name, Koa, meaning "warrior." Knowing my daughter would likely want one, too, I purchased this little Hedgehog, and we named him Huggie-Muffin because we all need a hedge-hug (pun intended). Huggie-Muffin is actually a doorstopper. Decorative doorstoppers are a more affordable option than buying a weighted stuffed animal. These links are not sponsored and are meant as ideas of weighted stuffed animals you could get for yourself.

Seeing the results from my weighted stuffed animal for my anxiety, I started putting my Purple pillow on top of me at night. I realized I was sleeping better with a heavy gel grid of the pillow on my body. So Harlen and I decided to get a weighted blanket to try. Just after one night, I had the best sleep I've had in a long time. However, most people find weighted blankets to either be amazing or terrible. The amount of weight can make a huge difference. This cooling weighted blanket has a handy chart to help determine the appropriate weight for your needs. The important thing is for you to see what best suits your needs.

Final Thoughts

I have a few final thoughts on using physical touch for self-love. The first one is placing your hand on your heart and giving yourself an affirmation. Second, if you are going through a lot of stress, you may consider getting a massage. If your budget is tight, look for a massage school in your area. I got a student massage for a fraction of the cost. Students at the massage school weren't allowed to accept tips, so I was able to save some $$ there, too.

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I hope today's post gave you some ideas for ways to show yourself love through Physical Touch. In my next post, I'll share the self-love language of Quality Time.