Self-Love Sunday Edition: The Miles That Led Me Back to Me

How Self-Care Turned Into Self-Love and Celebration

This morning, I woke up heavy. Not myself.

Before my feet even touched the floor, I could feel it, irritation, frustration, and the low-grade hum of exhaustion that comes from being drained for too long. And while I could name the reasons, I knew listing them wouldn’t lighten the weight in my chest.

As a therapist, I carry a lot, the stories of my clients, the responsibilities of my children and family, the demands of running a practice, and my own life transitions. I am deeply attuned to my body and mind, because I have to be. I’ve learned to check in with myself on purpose, not just when I break down, but in the daily moments when I sense something is off.

And some days, like today, those check-ins tell me my normal routine isn’t enough. I need more.

I didn’t want this heaviness spilling over onto my children, my husband, or anyone else. No one deserves that, even if they’ve contributed to my drain. So I went outside. Just me, my thoughts, my breath, and God. What started as a walk/jog for self-care became five miles of reflection, prayer, and love, each mile teaching me something I needed to hear.

Mile 1 — Active Self-Care

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies. — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

The first mile was about showing up physically. Walking. Jogging. Letting my body move and my lungs expand. This was me keeping a promise to myself, doing something I know helps me feel grounded.

Self-care was me saying, I get up every day and walk two miles because it’s good for me. Self-love is me saying, Today, I’m feeling heavy. My baseline isn’t enough. I need to do more to clear my mind, regulate my emotions, and show up better. Or, on other days, I’m drained and my body is asking for rest, and I’ll honor that without guilt.

As a therapist, I know that listening to your body is a skill. Many of my clients start with a rigid routine because that’s what they think wellness looks like. But over time, we work toward flexibility, the ability to meet yourself where you are each day. That flexibility is where self-love lives.

Mile 2 — Awareness & Reflection

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

By mile two, the truth was undeniable, I was not okay. My pace slowed as my mind caught up to my body. I was irritated about things I couldn’t control. Frustrated by people I couldn’t change.

I realized I needed more than movement, I needed compassion, patience, prayer, and stillness. I needed to check in with myself, not just check off a routine.

As a therapist, I talk about regulation before response, learning to ground yourself before reacting to your circumstances. That’s what this mile became: a pause to notice, name, and nurture what was happening inside me.

Mile 3 — Just Me & God

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28

The third mile was pure surrender. My breath matched my steps, my prayers matched my heartbeat. Gratitude and honesty spilled out, no agenda, just me and God.

In therapy, I often encourage clients to find an anchor, something or someone that helps them re-center. For me, that anchor is my faith. This mile reminded me that rest isn’t always physical. Sometimes it’s the relief of laying down emotional weight you were never meant to carry alone.

Mile 4 — Loving Myself Back to Me

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. — 1 Peter 4:8

By the fourth mile, something shifted. I felt myself returning, not perfect, but present. I could see the messy parts of me without judgment. I chose patience with myself, control over my tone, and love in my approach.

From a therapeutic lens, this is the integration point: when self-care and self-love meet. Self-care without self-love can feel like a checklist. Self-love without self-care can feel like wishful thinking. Together, they create a sustainable cycle:

• Self-care fuels self-love by meeting your needs.

• Self-love fuels self-care by motivating you to show up for yourself consistently.

Mile 5 — A Celebration of Me

The joy of the Lord is your strength. — Nehemiah 8:10

The last mile was joy. Not because I walked or jogged the fastest, but because I moved my truest. It was a victory lap, a moment to celebrate that I recognized my needs, honored them, and loved myself enough to act on them.

Celebration is an often-overlooked therapeutic tool. It’s not bragging, it’s reinforcing. When we acknowledge progress, we wire our brains to choose those healthy, life-giving behaviors again.

It felt good. It felt right. It felt like home.

The Cycle That Brings You Home to Yourself: Self-Care → Celebration → Self-Love

Category	Self-Care	Celebration (The Bridge)	Self-Love
Definition	The intentional actions you take to maintain or improve your well-being.	The active acknowledgment of your growth, efforts, and wins big or small.	The mindset and relationship you have with yourself, rooted in worth, acceptance, and compassion.
Mindset	“I am responsible for caring for my body, mind, and spirit.”	“I will honor my progress and give myself credit.”	“I am worthy of care, kindness, and respect — even when I’m not at my best.”
Focus	Maintenance and support (external behaviors).	Gratitude and reinforcement (marking progress).	Belief and acceptance (internal state).
Timeframe	Often short-term relief or daily habit.	Moments of pause to acknowledge growth along the way.	Long-term, ongoing relationship with self.
How It Feels	Refreshed, recharged, supported.	Uplifted, motivated, inspired.	Seen, accepted, valued, safe within yourself.

Types of Self-Care

Type	Purpose	Examples
Physical	Supports the health, strength, and energy of your body.	Walking/jogging, yoga or stretching, balanced meals & hydration, adequate sleep, regular medical check-ups
Emotional	Helps you process, express, and regulate your feelings.	Journaling feelings, talking to a therapist or trusted friend, naming emotions, practicing gratitude, creating art or music
Mental	Stimulates your mind and reduces mental stress.	Reading or learning something new, mindfulness or meditation, puzzles or brain games, limiting social media, engaging in creative projects
Spiritual	Connects you to meaning, purpose, and faith.	Prayer or devotionals, scripture reading, attending worship, spending time in nature, practicing stillness or reflection
Social	Builds and maintains healthy, supportive relationships.	Coffee with a friend, joining a small group, family game night, acts of kindness, setting healthy boundaries
Sensory	Uses your senses to create calm, comfort, or pleasure.	Aromatherapy, listening to soothing music, weighted blanket, warm bath, watching a sunset
Practical	Manages everyday responsibilities to reduce stress.	Organizing your space, meal prepping, paying bills, budgeting, creating a manageable schedule
Professional	Supports your career health, growth, and work-life balance.	Taking breaks at work, professional development courses, setting work boundaries, delegating tasks, using vacation days

Final Reflection

This walk reminded me that self-care, self-love, and celebration are not three separate destinations, they are a cycle that keeps me grounded, present, and aligned. Self-care gets me moving. Self-love helps me listen and adjust. Celebration locks in the progress so I’m motivated to keep showing up.

Even as a therapist, someone who teaches these concepts daily, I have to remind myself that routines are not the goal; connection to self is the goal. There will be days when two miles is enough, and days when I need five. There will be moments when rest is more restorative than movement, and times when movement is the prayer my body is asking for.

Self-love doesn’t mean doing the most. It means doing what’s needed. It’s the willingness to listen inwardly, respond compassionately, and remember that honoring your needs is not selfish, it’s stewardship.

So, here’s my invitation to you:

Check in with yourself today. Ask, What do I need, not just to get through the day, but to show up as the truest version of myself?

And when you answer, act on it. Then pause to celebrate the fact that you listened.

Because every time you do, you’re not just walking toward wellness, you’re walking back home to yourself.

Reflection Questions

1. Self-Awareness

   • When was the last time you noticed you weren’t “yourself”?

   • How did you recognize it, through your thoughts, feelings, or body sensations?

     
     

2. Self-Care

   • What is your current “baseline” self-care routine?

   • How do you know when that baseline is enough, and when it’s not?

     
     

3. Self-Love

   • How do you show yourself compassion when you’re not at your best?

   • Are there moments when you’ve given yourself permission to do less without guilt or to do more without shame?

     
     

4. Celebration

   • How often do you pause to acknowledge your progress, no matter how small?

   • What is one way you can celebrate yourself this week?

     
     

5. Faith & Alignment

   • Where does God or your faith fit into your self-care and self-love practices?

   • What anchor scripture or truth helps you recenter when you feel off balance?