Choosing Ourselves: Redefining Self-Love as Latinas
- Jennie Velasco
- May 24
- 2 min read
For many Latinas, loving ourselves doesn’t come naturally—it comes later. If it comes at all.
In Episode 3 of Listen, Mija, we’re unpacking something we’ve all wrestled with: what it really means to be in a relationship with ourselves. It’s something we were never taught to prioritize. In fact, we were often taught the opposite.
From a young age, many of us are conditioned to care for everyone else first—our siblings, our parents, our partners, our communities. The cultural narrative around Latina womanhood often glorifies self-sacrifice, turning it into a badge of honor: the martyr mom, the loyal daughter, the ride-or-die partner. And while there’s love in that role, there’s also a quiet erasure.
So we asked ourselves:
What does a relationship with yourself look like when you were raised to put everyone else first?
Why do we feel guilt for choosing rest? For setting boundaries? For not showing up for everyone, every time?
And how do we even begin to undo this internalized expectation to always give more than we have?
In this conversation, we reflect on the traditional definitions of success we grew up with—marriage, children, caretaking—and how those ideas often stand in the way of knowing who we are outside of those roles. Jennie shares how becoming a mother in two completely different seasons of life forced a deeper reflection. Jen talks about the balance of caring for a family while still carving space for her own needs, especially her health. And Stella opens up about finding herself again after divorce and redefining what fulfillment looks like.
This episode isn’t just about self-love in the way wellness culture packages it—it’s about liberation. About breaking generational cycles. About showing our children, nieces, and siblings that their worth isn’t tied to how much they produce or how much they endure.
It’s not easy. But it’s necessary.
If this topic resonates, we also recommend reading “A Latina’s Journey to Self-Care” on Latino Rebels, which beautifully echoes the themes we explore in this episode.
🎧 Tune in to Episode 3 of Listen, Mija on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
💬 How are you rewriting the narrative of self-worth and identity? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a message or share your story with us on Instagram @listenmija_podcast.
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