Holistic Wellness Nurse

Unpacking the Baggage: A Self-Love Reflection on What We Carry

How Much Are You Carrying?

Self-love isn’t just about affirmations and bubble baths—it’s about awareness. It’s about recognizing what we carry, what supports us, and what is silently weighing us down.

Imagine walking through life with an invisible suitcase strapped to your back. Inside it, you carry everything—memories, beliefs, relationships, expectations, fears, and even the history of those who came before you. Some of these things empower you, keeping you grounded and connected. Others, however, displace you, making it harder to move forward, draining your energy, and clouding your sense of self.

But how often do we actually take the time to unpack?

We accumulate so much—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—yet we rarely pause to ask:

• Does this still serve me

• Am I carrying this out of love or out of obligation?

• If this were taken from me, would I feel liberated or lost?

Self-love requires exercising control over your baggage so that it supports you rather than weighs you down. If you don’t consciously manage what you carry, it can displace you from your own growth, keeping you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you.

The Weight of What We Carry

At a recent Writing as a Response to Art workshop, I was deeply moved by an exhibit called Pathways and Passages by artist Earl O. James. His work explores the migration of people—by force, by choice, or by necessity—and the things they take (or leave behind) along the way.

One piece in particular spoke to me: a beautifully chaotic assemblage of metal, old china, and suitcases—a representation of everything people hold onto in times of displacement. It reminded me of the “stuff” we all carry—our joys, our traumas, our identities, our histories.

Standing in front of that artwork, I thought: What happens when our baggage is taken from us? What happens when we’re forced to leave parts of ourselves behind?

For some, baggage is a source of strength—a picture of family, a keepsake from home, a tradition passed down. For others, baggage is a burden—unhealed wounds, limiting beliefs, regrets. The reality is, we all carry something. And whether we realize it or not, our baggage shapes how we move through the world.

Displaced by Our Own Baggage

Not all baggage is visible, but all of it has weight. Sometimes, the heaviest burdens are the ones we cannot see—the expectations we place on ourselves, the fear of failure, the pain of past experiences. When we carry too much without sorting through it, we become displaced from our true selves:

• We hold onto relationships that no longer nourish us because we fear starting over.

• We cling to outdated beliefs about who we are and what we deserve.

• We let past mistakes define our worth, preventing us from stepping into the love and freedom we seek.

Carrying too much, for too long, disconnects us from our own journey. Instead of moving forward, we become stuck—dragging around old baggage that no longer belongs in our present.

But what if we could lighten the load? What if we could choose what stays and what goes?

The Self-Love Practice of Unpacking

To fully embrace self-love, we must practice sorting through our baggage. Here’s how:

1. Inventory Your Stuff

• Write down what you are carrying emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

• Identify which things support you and which things burden you.

2. Sort It Out

• Keep: The things that empower you, bring you peace, and support your growth.

• Release: The things that drain you, keep you stuck, or no longer align with who you are becoming.

3. Ask Yourself: Who Would I Be Without This?

• If a belief, habit, or relationship was suddenly gone, how would you feel?

• Would you be lighter? Freer? More at peace?

4. Give Yourself Permission to Let Go

• Self-love means recognizing that not everything needs to be carried forever.

• Release guilt, shame, or obligation—your worth is not tied to what you hold onto.

5. Move with Intention

• As you move forward, be mindful of what you choose to carry.

• Regularly check in with yourself—your baggage should support your journey, not weigh you down.

Love Yourself Enough to Travel Light

Your self-love journey is not about having less—it’s about carrying what truly matters. It’s about choosing to hold onto things that uplift you and releasing what holds you back.

If you’ve been feeling heavy, lost, or disconnected, ask yourself:

• Am I carrying things that no longer serve me?

• Am I holding onto pain that is not mine to bear?

• Do I have the courage to unpack and release?

Loving yourself means loving yourself enough to lighten the load. It means choosing what stays and what goes so that you can move freely, breathe deeply, and step into the life you truly deserve.

Take a moment today to unpack. Your journey will thank you for it.

Ready to dive deeper? Take the free Wellistics Wellness Assessment to gain insight into what you’re carrying and how to move forward with clarity and self-love.

Author Kyra Jackson Holistic Wellness Nurses and Yoga Facilitator & Practitioner