Welcome to the RSB Blog! Here, you will find insights, reflections, and stories from the Radical Southern Belle

Kratina Baker Kratina Baker

The Evolution of Self-Care: From Acts of Comfort to Deeper Self-Love

Excerpt:

Self-care is more than bubble baths and spa days—it’s about showing up for yourself in meaningful ways every day. It’s about recognizing your triggers, understanding your needs, and taking intentional actions that nurture your mind, body, and soul. In this blog, we dive into the deeper practices of self-care, exploring how acts of self-love can transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. Discover what it means to move beyond surface-level care and embrace a journey of true restoration and growth.

When we think of self-care, images of spa days, bubble baths, and solo trips may come to mind. And while these practices can be nurturing, they only scratch the surface of what it means to truly care for ourselves. Self-care is important, but when we pair it with self-love, we deepen the way we show up for ourselves and transform the way we move through life.

The Deeper Work of Self-Care

At its core, self-care is about tending to ourselves—our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. But there’s a difference between surface-level care and the deeper practices of self-awareness and healing. It’s not just about escaping stress for a moment of peace; it’s about recognizing and addressing what’s causing the stress in the first place.

For me, that deeper work has looked like sitting with discomfort instead of avoiding it. I’ve noticed how certain triggers—like anxiety, depression, or procrastination—manifest in my actions. Sometimes it’s doom-scrolling on social media, other times it’s impulsive shopping. These are moments when I’ve learned to pause and ask myself: What am I avoiding? What do I need to address to heal?

Facing those feelings instead of masking them with distractions has been a radical act of self-love.

Self-Love: The Next Step in Self-Care

Self-care is important, but self-love takes it to another level. It’s the difference between doing what feels good in the moment and doing what truly honors your long-term well-being. Self-love isn’t just a sentiment—it’s an action. It’s the intentional practice of treating yourself with the same compassion, patience, and investment that you would show to someone you deeply love.

Think about the distinction: Caring about someone is kind, but loving them often requires more. Love demands commitment. Love inspires action. When we apply this to ourselves, it means going beyond the surface. It means recognizing what we need, creating systems that support our growth, and making choices that align with our values—even when it’s hard.

For example:

  • Taking time to reflect on your triggers and addressing them head-on is self-love.

  • Choosing to set boundaries that protect your peace is self-love.

  • Celebrating small wins, even when no one else notices, is self-love.

Mixing Self-Care with Self-Love

Self-care and self-love work hand in hand. While self-care might look like a quiet evening reading your favorite book, self-love is the commitment to carve out that time for yourself despite the demands of your day. Self-care might be indulging in a luxurious spa treatment, but self-love is acknowledging why you deserve that rest and holding space for yourself without guilt.

The Radical Southern Belle is about more than tradition; it’s about evolving the way we show up for ourselves and our communities. And that starts with doing the deeper work of caring for—and loving—ourselves.

An Invitation

As we prepare for a new year, I invite you to reflect on your own practices of self-care and self-love. What triggers or habits do you want to face head-on? How can you show up for yourself in ways that go beyond comfort and truly demonstrate love? Write it down. Sit with it. Let’s commit to this work together.

Because when we love ourselves deeply, we show the world that we are worthy of care, dignity, and joy—and we begin to transform our lives from the inside out.

Let me know how you are showing your self love in the comments!

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Kratina Baker Kratina Baker

Embracing the Mic: Preparing for My First Podcast Episode

Have you ever had a moment where life pushed you to pause, reflect, and redefine your path?

That was me, sitting on the other side of law school. I had achieved the degree, survived the exams, and crossed the finish line—but I was still wondering, what’s next? I felt... stuck. I knew I didn’t want to practice law, but I had this dream, this vision of what my life could be, but I couldn’t figure out how to take that next step.

Have you ever had a moment where life pushed you to pause, reflect, and redefine your path?

That was me, sitting on the other side of law school. I had achieved the degree, survived the exams, and crossed the finish line—but I was still wondering, what’s next? I felt... stuck. I knew I didn’t want to practice law, but I had this dream, this vision of what my life could be, but I couldn’t figure out how to take that next step.

But here’s the thing about feeling stuck—it forces you to stop and really listen. And when I did, I realized something that changed everything: my path wasn’t about following the traditional route. It was about stepping into my own power, embracing who I am, and sharing my story authentically.

Fast forward to today, as I am preparing to record the first episodes of the Radical Southern Belle Podcast, I can’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come. This isn’t just about hitting record on a mic. It’s about something much bigger—owning my voice and creating a space where other Black women (and men) can feel empowered to own theirs too.

The Podcast Vision

For years, I’ve felt called to explore the intersections of social justice, radical self-love, and Southern identity. Growing up as a proud Black Southern woman, I carry the stories, lessons, and resilience of my ancestors. Through this podcast, I want to honor that legacy while challenging the status quo.

The Radical Southern Belle Podcast is a space where we’ll dive into honest conversations about:

  • Empowerment: How we claim our power in a world that often tries to diminish it.

  • Social Justice: Bridging tradition with progress to create meaningful change in our communities.

  • Radical Self-Love: Learning to see ourselves fully and love every part of who we are.

This podcast is for anyone who believes that transformation begins from within and ripples outward to change the world.

Kratina Baker reviewing podcast episode notes on a laptop.

The Journey to Episode One

Preparing for this podcast has been a deeply personal and transformative experience. From brainstorming ideas to adjusting the mic for the first time, every step has been a reminder of why this matters.

It’s not just about creating content—it’s about creating connection. It’s about speaking to the parts of ourselves that we’ve been told to hide and showing up authentically, flaws and all.

As I sit at my desk, with my notes scattered and my mic ready, I feel a mixture of nerves and excitement. I know this journey won’t be perfect, but that’s the beauty of it. Growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones and let our voices be heard.

A Call to You

This is one of my transformative moments. What’s yours?

Think about a time when you felt stuck or uncertain—what did you learn about yourself? How did it change your path? I’d love to hear your stories. Share them with me in the comments or on social media using #RadicalSouthernBelle.

Every transformative journey begins with a single step. Recording my first podcast episode is one of mine, and I’m so grateful to have you here as part of this journey.

Stay tuned—the Radical Southern Belle Podcast launches Spring 2025. Let’s grow, reflect, and transform together.

In Solidarity,

Kratina



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