A lot has changed in Kevin Love’s life since 2018, when the NBA star opened up for the first time about his ongoing struggles with his own mental health in a landmark essay for The Players Tribune.

Love, already an NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist, titled his essay viral
“Everybody goes through something,” and it was a groundbreaking revelation that even one of the top athletes in professional sports can struggle with depression and anxiety; it led to a mid-game panic attack on November 5, 2017, which landed him in the hospital.

Love is now 36 and more than half a decade into his work outside the court advocating for mental health through the eponymous Kevin Love Fund, but the Miami Heat star tells PEOPLE in a new interview that, just like most still have bad days. .

“It’s a journey, not a destination,” says Love, reflecting on how he’s grown since launching his non-profit in 2018 and becoming the face of mental health in American sports. “I learned how interconnected mental health is with everything else in life—your relationships, your physical health, your career, even your sense of purpose. It’s not something you just “fix” and move on from. It’s something you have to constantly work on, like your fitness.”

The NBA veteran, who began his 16th season in the league last week, says it wasn’t until he started “practicing self-compassion” that he saw real growth in his life.

“It’s okay not to have it all together all the time,” he admits now. “We’ve found that what’s important is that we continue to show up for ourselves and each other, every day.”

Love, who married the former Sports Illustrated Kate Bock swimsuit pattern in June 2022, he has more than himself to show these days. He and Bock welcomed their first daughter in June 2023 while he and the Heat were in the NBA Finals, giving him a new challenge to take on: Fatherhood.

Adjusting to parenthood has been “an incredible experience,” Love says, though she admits it’s also come with a lot to learn.

“Becoming a father definitely changed my perspective on mental health,” says Love.

Part of that includes thinking about how he will have conversations with her as she grows up.

“For me, it’s important to create an environment where mental health is an open conversation and continues from a young age,” he says. “I want her to feel safe expressing her emotions and to know that it’s okay to ask for help whenever she needs it. it. I think a lot of mental health issues arise when kids feel like they have to boss things around or keep their struggles to themselves, so my plan is to encourage her to be in touch with her emotions and teach her those feelings, whether they they are good or bad – they are a natural part of life.”

And Love says that now, as a new father, he’s becoming increasingly aware that making sure you’re taking care of your own mental health is just as important to those around you as it is to you.

“Taking care of myself is not just about me,” says Love. “It’s about creating a stable and healthy environment for everyone around me. So, I try to be really mindful of setting aside time for myself, whether it’s through therapy, meditation, exercise, or even just taking a few minutes to clear my head. It’s important for me to be present, not just physically, but emotionally, for my daughter, and that starts with making sure I’m in the right headspace.”

Ultimately, Love says, “I’m learning that prioritizing my mental health makes me a better parent, partner, and person in general.”

That also includes thinking about what his future might hold after the NBA. Love says he’s confident his time with the game won’t end when his playing career ends.

“Once I retire from basketball, I envision devoting more time to expanding (my) foundation’s initiatives,” Love says of his mental health initiative, which “works to inspire people to live their healthiest lives by creating equity between health mental and physical”. according to it website.

Earlier this summer, Love helped lead a mental health summit for student-athletes who shared their stories and learned more about how to pay attention and care for their own mental well-being.

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“We can do so much more in terms of awareness, education and providing resources for mental health, especially for youth and athletes,” Love says of the foundation’s future plans. “I want to help shape policies that improve access to mental health care and support in schools and communities and continue to break down the stigma around mental health.”

And in the NBA space, Love says he can see himself “working closely with young players, helping them navigate the transition from college to the professional level.”

“Ultimately, I see my post-basketball career as an opportunity to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Love says, noting how players like Udanis Haslem and DeMar DeRozan have made efforts to help the younger generations of players. “I want to help young athletes reach their full potential and work through the challenges that come with being a professional player. It’s about leaving the game better than I found it, as many players have done for me.”