March 5, 2023, 11:39 AM
March 5, 2023, 11:39 AM
Gabriela Oviedo Serrate (40) is one of the most important faces on Bolivian television; Marketing and Advertising engineer, Miss Bolivia Universe 2003, news presenter with more than 16 years of experience and, since 2021, writer.
The pandemic and the desire to “counteract” the negativity it generated encouraged her to open her soul to her social media followers and share a process that changed her life: the recovery of self-love.
The feedback from the public later gave her the push she needed to encourage herself to publish a book: ‘It’s not luck, it’s self-love’, a work that she also dedicates to someone who, from another plane, inspires her to continue evolving.
What does it convey? It’s not luck, it’s self-love?
The phrase that I chose for the title seeks to express in a clear, concise and precise way the message that the book promotes on each page: empowerment and personal improvement. One of the most important lessons I share is that current circumstances do not define the rest of our lives, we decide that day by day with each action. The book promotes the premise that if we cultivate self-love we will be able to regain the power that we left to chance, we will assume the responsibility of committing ourselves, growth and objectives in order to forge the future we dream of. While not everything that happens in life is under our control, how we react and choose to overcome it is.
_What inspired you?
Anecdotes and personal lessons learned at different stages that can be applied to the life of each reader. It is a self-help, self-improvement book, it also contains the concepts and steps suggested by modern psychology to overcome any situation that we have to face. Writing it involved a lot of introspection and research on each of the thematic axes of the chapters.
_You were elected the most beautiful woman in Bolivia, you are a successful professional, did you ever have low self-esteem?
Until a few years ago, I struggled with a lack of self-esteem, which did not allow me to trust my abilities, criticized me and clipped my wings. Fear dominated my decisions and prevented me from moving forward. There were periods when things were getting better, but I didn’t have the level of emotional maturity that is required for events beyond our control.
do not affect me or so that malicious comments and actions do not take away the desire to keep trying. It was a journey with many ups and downs that I now want to share with the readers so that they can relate and be inspired to keep going and never be convinced by that inner voice that constantly warns us about everything bad.
What can happen.
_ What else happens when someone doesn’t feel self-love?
We settle into the role of victims believing that it is the life that touched us and that we can do nothing to change it. Not having self-love makes us the target of all kinds of abuse and suffering: bullying, suicide, physical and sexual assaults, even femicides. While we are not guilty of finding ourselves in such a situation, we are responsible for getting out of it. And the first step to do it is cultivating and
strengthening our self-esteem.
_What causes self-love to be lost or weakened?
There are several factors: absence of parents during childhood, negative influences in adolescence, toxic people in youth, not receiving love and respect from those who are supposed to love and respect you (parents and partner), normalization of family violence, among other causes.
_What do you propose to improve our self-esteem?
Read the book and follow the tips I share in each chapter. By the way, I also created a Self-Love Calendar to help people in a practical way in applying the knowledge acquired in the book. Through this new tool I propose daily challenges with the aim that, eventually, with repetition, these become positive habits that help reinforce self-esteem.
_How do you see the issue of self-love in Bolivians?
Little by little, the issue is handled more openly within families and schools. Before it was not a known concept, much less its importance was recognized and it was even confused with vanity and egocentrism. Today it is a subject that is discussed with greater propriety and naturalness; however, there is still a long way to go. Unfortunately, the machismo so ingrained in our society often tries to curb that power over themselves that is sought to be returned to women.
One of the biggest objectives of the book is to get the message to reach the largest number of women, especially moms, due to the chain impact it would generate. If I manage to restore a mother’s self-esteem and encourage her to regain control of her life and even to say “enough” to any abuse -whether it comes from a partner, family or work-, her children will grow up with that
example of empowerment The little women are going to learn to set limits and the little boys, to respect them. That new generation will be the one that finally
it will begin to consolidate the changes that our society needs regarding respect for women.
_Your purpose is being fulfilled, what causes you to have been among the most read books in the country?
Much gratitude and humility. Knowing that so many people trusted me, bought my book, and applied the advice I share in it, makes my heart rejoice and my commitment to empowering women.
women get stronger.
_What was the most difficult decision you made, asserting your self-love?
In the book I share all the difficult decisions I had to make in different periods. In the last chapter I speak precisely of the most difficult.
_And what was the reward?
My happiness, personal and professional growth, and, above all, the opportunity to know true love. Once I was able to free myself from all the limitations that I imposed on myself so as not to ‘disappoint’ others and live up to their expectations, I was finally able to know myself, accept myself, respect myself and embrace myself with all my flaws and dreams. Reaching that level of balance and inner peace allowed me to meet the perfect person for me; one attracts what is, then we must first become the person we would like to have in our life.
How do you feel at this stage of your life?
I feel full. I know who I am and I recognize all that I can become. I am aware of my worth, what I contribute and what I deserve. Now I trust myself and the ability I’ve acquired to get positive things out of even the worst situations.
_You recently said goodbye to someone very special on the networks, how are you today?
Heartbroken for having lost him so soon, but full of gratitude for having known him and enjoyed his perfect and sublime love for two and a half years. Despite the hard times he went through as a result of the illness that afflicted him, he was always there for me,
supporting me and encouraging me to keep going, helping me where he could and applauding each goal. It added a lot to me in all aspects of my life. Although we had hundreds of unfulfilled dreams, it was the most wonderful relationship I’ve ever had.
_Your strength is admirable; see you encouraging and encouraging others not to be overcome by pain, while you live it…
It’s called resilience and it’s the key to achieving the peace and tranquility we all seek in life. Understanding that nothing is permanent, that everything is fleeting, saves us a lot of frustration and suffering. “Change doesn’t hurt, what hurts is resisting it,” says one of my favorite phrases. Although I mourned his departure, I was grateful that today he is in a better place: without serums,
pain or hospital food.
It helps me a lot to handle the sadness of his absence, knowing that he is now free from all suffering in heaven, enjoying the hug from his mother that he missed so much. Feeling good or bad about something that is beyond our control
Control is a decision we make. I have decided, obviously after venting, to focus on everything beautiful that we live together, instead of everything that we lacked to live. Of course, there are days that cost a little more than others, but I understand that it is a reality that I will not be able to change no matter how much I pray or cry. So instead of spending my energy frustrating myself, I have decided to honor his memory and her love by becoming the woman he always trusted her to be. So here we go.
_What do you dream of now?
I dream of being able to continue living in balance, with peace and happiness in my heart, enjoying the present while preparing for the future. I hope to continue growing in all aspects of my life, meeting people and places that are in tune with me.
And, as a mother, I hope I can inherit that way of facing life to my children.
_ Will you tell your latest experiences in another book?
Now I am working on the second book related to managing emotions and, given the latest events in my life, I may write another one, but no longer self-help, but a novel.
