Embracing Your Self-Worth: The Journey to Inner Empowerment with Ana Salido

Join me and my guest, Ana Salido, a self-care and women's empowerment coach, as we reveal how true transformation begins with our relationship to ourselves.

Ana's journey began with a painful realization that she had spent years giving to others without knowing how to give to herself. This awakening launched her into a deep exploration of the internal work that now forms the foundation of her coaching practice.

Our conversation ventures into a territory many women will find painfully familiar—the harsh inner critic. Ana brilliantly distinguishes between "being nice" (self-sacrificing) and "being kind" (honoring both yourself and others), challenging listeners to examine where they might be abandoning themselves in the name of people-pleasing.

Whether you're just beginning to question the people-pleasing patterns in your life or you're already on a journey of self-discovery, Ana's compassionate wisdom offers a roadmap for moving forward.

Guest Bio:

Ana is a Self-Care and Women's Empowerment Coach. She is dedicated to helping women prioritize their own needs by creating sustainable self-care habits that allow them to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. With a background in Psychology, coaching and personal transformation, she has developed a unique approach that blends mindfulness, self-love, and practical strategies to empower women to regain control of their time, energy, and sense of self.

Her journey led her to discover powerful tools for setting boundaries, fostering self-respect, and ultimately, creating a life that reflects her true desires. Ana is offering insights on personal growth, empowerment, and the necessity of self-care in today’s demanding world. Her passion for helping women reconnect with their power and purpose makes her a sought-after voice in the field of women's well-being.

Free gift: The art of putting yourself first provides access to Ana’s masterclass packed with valuable insights, strategies, and practices to help you reclaim your vitality, passion, and joy. From simple daily rituals to profound mindset shifts, these tools are designed to empower you to live a life that aligns with your truest desires and aspirations.

Find Ana:

Website, Instagram, The Art of putting Yourself First Free Gift

This episode was produced by six-two.studio

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Karen Sarmento is a passionate and dedicated Nurse Practitioner for more than 18 years, CEO at Sarmento Mentoring Services LLC, and a Proctor Gallagher Certified Mindset Mentor. She specializes in empowering women to tap into their true potential. She understands the unique challenges faced by women because she too has battled some major challenges in her life. Karen does not let that define her; she believes it’s the challenges that have made her the limitless woman she is today. She whole-heartedly believes we hold all the power within and that we should stand tall together in the pursuit of greatness.

Karen has served thousands over the course of her career and has spent many years studying directly with world class mentors to gain a deep understanding of the science behind human behaviour and learning about the success principals that create lasting change and transformation. She will share her insights with you so you can feel unstoppable and limitless too.

Find Karen:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Transcript

Karen Sarmento:

0:01

Have you ever felt that inner whisper nudging you towards something greater? We truly are a force of nature, possessing our own incredible power within. We are all here to identify our own personal definition of success. We all have a story to tell. Join me as I dive into empowering concepts and have powerful conversations with extraordinary humans who have shattered limitations, overcome adversity and created remarkable success. I'm your host, Karen Sarmento, and we are meant for more. Hello and welcome back to another episode of We Are Meant For More.

Karen Sarmento:

0:55

Today, I have the pleasure of bringing to you the amazing Ana Salido. Welcome, Ana, thank you. Thank you, karen, for having me today. So let me introduce you and tell the audience a little bit about you, because you're amazing. So I'm going to read right from your bio, because I like to make sure I get this right coach dedicated to helping women prioritize their own needs by creating sustainable self-care habits that allow them to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. You have a background in psychology, coaching and personal transformation, and you've developed a unique coaching framework that blends mindfulness, self-love and practical strategies. Sounds like your journey to becoming the self-care and women's empowerment coach began with some of your own challenges and struggles, which is often the case. Thank you so much for being here.

Ana Salido:

2:01

Thank you Once again. Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Karen Sarmento:

2:07

Yes, this will be good, good, so tell us a little bit about you and where your journey began.

Ana Salido:

2:12

Yeah, sure, absolutely.

Ana Salido:

2:14

So from the accent maybe you recognize from France. I live now in Australia. I've been, you know, I've been here, for I've been there for eight or nine years now, so it's been a while. That's where I called home and I would say that my journey, you know, as in the personal development coaching and you know, self-love, self-worth, started 10 years ago after a breakup, you know, realizing that I had no idea, no idea.

Ana Salido:

2:45

You know, all of that self-worth, self-love, self-compassion, self-esteem, you know it wasn't part of my, you know, my, daily life. I had no idea what it was, even though I was studying psychology. You know it felt like I had no idea what it was. It was all about, you know, keep on pleasing, be the good girl, be the nice girl. You know, like, don't be high maintenance, uh, be cool.

Ana Salido:

3:11

And then, after the breakup with my boyfriend at the time, you know it's realizing I had a lot of resentment towards him because, you know, when you give a lot and you don't necessarily, you know, get it in return. It's like you know what's wrong with me when you know this. So that was really, it was the don't necessarily. You know, get it in return. It's like you know what's wrong with me when, you know, so that was really.

Ana Salido:

3:27

It was the beginning of my journey, you know, realizing that it needs to start with me. I can't just rely on people, you know, to give me something that I can't even give to myself. And that's really where my journey, you know, started. And the more you dive into it, you know, the more you dig, the more you discover about yourself, the more you work on yourself. And then here we are, you know, now that's where I am. You know, teaching women to. You know, prioritize themselves, because if you don't know who you are and in the process, if you lose yourself, it happens, but go back to yourself because you can't show up for anyone else. If you can yourself, it happens, but go back to yourself because you can't show up for anyone else.

Karen Sarmento:

4:07

If you can't even show up for yourself, so good so good and I'm sure so many women can relate to that feeling after a breakup, where you're feeling the resentment, the self worth issues oh, what's wrong with me? But particularly what's jumping out at me is the resentment because, gosh, I gave so much and that anger there. Could you walk us through how that presented itself to you, like what that looked like and how you were able to catch yourself and realize hold on, I need to do something about this because I'm not letting this take me down, because it could take somebody down and out.

Ana Salido:

4:53

Oh, you know, absolutely. You know it didn't start straight away. You know, when I realized that I had to work on myself, you know, and that the resentment I had towards him had to work on myself, you know, and that the resentment I had towards him, or even, you know, then I realized, even if it was subconsciously, you know, I have resentment towards, you know, some of my friends, because you know, it's like once again, you know, I give so much. I'm always there for you, I would do anything for you, I would do, and I wasn't doing it, you know, to get something in return. It's maybe to, you know, to some extent, I don't know, but it's, it's really about you know how come, you know, when you have that feeling of, you know, emptiness, you know, how come I never get as much as I give. You know, and, and that that's where you know and you know you start. So you know you're online, you start searching, you know, know what's wrong with me, why did I? And then you know, you end up on some websites, or you know blogs and you start reading, you know like, and you start.

Ana Salido:

5:55

It all started with me reading stories about women that went through that. And then you know I recognize myself into their stories, in their stories, and you know being like, but hang on a second, that's that's me. You know like, maybe that's where their stories. And you know being like, but hang on a second, that's that's me. You know like, maybe that's where I go. So you know you start. It's like the domino effect. You know you start with.

Ana Salido:

6:12

Or maybe you know I need to have that self-love. You know to be more. You know once again, you know if you don't love yourself and once it's not about being perfect, but I was that it needs to start with me. So what does that mean? Loving myself, you know. So you go through that and you start digging and you understand and you know the judgment. And they discover that inner self-talk, the way I was talking to myself without even realizing, because you know that inner self-talk was there for so long, you know it was so ingrained. And then you know you discover the inner child. You know like what she needs, you do. You know what I mean. So it was really one step at the time. You know, getting closer and closer to when I wanted to be and I was. It's just I needed to unleash, you know, and to get rid of all the layers. You know that was there and that I couldn't, you know, spread my wings pretty much.

Karen Sarmento:

7:07

Oh, wow, there's so much, so much to dive into there that you just said I know so much good in all that I'm going to back up to just this piece, the self-love piece. How does somebody begin to love themselves? What does that mean Like? What could that look like for somebody who that's an unfamiliar term?

Ana Salido:

7:29

For me it all started, you know, when realizing. You know the inner self-talk that, you know the way I was talking to myself. So it was really about what words I am, you know, am I using to describe myself? What word am I, you know, when first thing in the morning you wake up, you look at yourself and it's like, oh, look at your face, oh, you're too big. Oh, your hair is not good again. Oh, you're not smart enough anyway for that project, don't do it. Oh, you want to try that? Oh, oh, you want to try that. Oh, you're gonna look stupid. Don't even try. Do you know what I mean?

Ana Salido:

8:02

That's where I realized for me that self-love started really by realizing how judging I was towards myself. The things I heard as well, you know, from my boyfriend at the time and you know but once again I'm not here to blame him or it's not about that but you know, we were young, you don't? You don't know any better, you don't know anything else. Do you know what I mean? So it's so hard to realize that. How wrong you know that is.

Karen Sarmento:

8:35

It's. It's all part of the journey in the process of of recognizing if we knew better, we would have done better. But I can completely relate to a lot of that would have done better. But I can completely relate to a lot of that and the way we talk to ourselves. This is like years of probably doing this, that I hear this from a lot of women, that that's what we've always done, very critical of ourselves, things we'd never say to somebody else no, no absolutely not, and that's the thing you know.

Ana Salido:

8:59

It's like the domino effect and I always say it works, you know, in the positive, but most of the time in the negative. Because the way you talk to yourself, then it has an impact on your self-confidence, your self-esteem, your worth, what you think you know you are worth, your values, the way you show up in the world, the way you don't show up for yourself. But then all of that it has an impact on a relationship with a boyfriend, a partner. You know it has an impact with your kids, If you have kids. It has an impact on how you show up at work. It has and that's where you know my journey really you know when and sometimes you know some women they get scared.

Ana Salido:

9:36

You know when I talk like this because it's like, well, I know how long it's going to take me and I'm like just remember it's not like you need to work on. You know, like that aspect is going to take you I don't know how long, and then you go to the next one. Everything is linked, everything is part of your journey. So you work on one thing, it will have an impact on the other one, and then on the next thing and the next thing, and it's a life journey at the end of the day. That's why I always say it's a lifestyle. You know self-love. You know I think we can manage. You know now I do manage my inner self-talk. Is it ever going to disappear? I don't think so. Do you know what I mean? I've got better days, worse days. Do you know what I mean? And it's going through the roller coaster of emotions and life.

Karen Sarmento:

10:22

Yes, yes, and it isn't any one thing that fixes it, and it's never quite fixed, it's ongoing. We're constantly up leveling and constantly working on ourselves. Yet you mentioned too, it's all on the inside, so I love that.

Ana Salido:

10:56

It's empowering, it's really empowering to think, you know I love a good massage. I love, you know, taking care of myself. You know of things that I can do on my outside world, but the self-care you know I work with now and try to bring women into it's really that inner self-care, you know, the one that no one can see it, not even yourself. At first. You're gonna feel it and that's where, you know, the biggest frustration, you know, sometimes for women is, you know, it's like you can't see it on your outside world straight away. You're gonna feel it, but to feel it you need to be connected to yourself. You need to understand yourself, you need to understand your body, especially as women. You know we have so much wisdom, you know, in our bodies. Do you know what I mean? So there is that aspect of it's all about. You need to feel it at first before you can actually start seeing the results.

Ana Salido:

11:52

You know, in your outside world, and when I compare, you know I always say it's like you want to go to the gym, you want the six pack. And when I compare, you know I always say it's like you want to go to the gym, you want the six pack. Well, at first. You know you're not going to see the six pack. You know it's going to maybe take you two months, three months, before you can see it. It doesn't mean it's not happening. You need to keep going.

Karen Sarmento:

12:15

Well, that's the same thing with that inner work, the self-care that I call. You know it's like that inner work. What does the inner work look like to you and maybe that'll describe a little bit about what your coaching style is. But for the women that are thinking I'd like to start doing some of the inner work, because we all know kind of what the outside self love you know like you said massage the facial. But what's the inner work look like for you?

Ana Salido:

12:39

For me and you know, with a lot of women and I think, with my, with myself, I think with my life where I started as well is working on my values. You know, because my values, they are my guidelines, you know. That's where I make decisions in my life, that's where you know what I mean, because without that guideline, it's like it's almost like your life is based on other people's opinion, it's based on what other people want. So there is that huge things as well with a lot of women. You know, when you feel like you are living a life that it's not aligned with what you want, that that can be really triggering, you know as well. So there is a lot of work that I do, you know, with women around that and, once again, that inner work with the self-love, for me that's really important. You know we've to work with that, to work with women on that, and it's really bringing them to realize how you're talking to yourself, change that and also visualize, you know, like there is that for me it's not about becoming anyone, it's not about becoming a woman. You want that woman. It's just you're not seeing her. You're not. You know you're not giving her permission to exist, you're not.

Ana Salido:

13:54

So the way you know, I'm like talk to me a woman. She can be in your family, a friend, someone on TV Just describe a woman that you're like, oh my God, when I see her, I'm like that's the. You know, she's a woman, she's amazing. And then you know, they start describing when, the way she walks and the way she, you know, whatever that is, and I'm like, yeah, ok, and do you know why? I mean it's a realizing like, and I'm like why you're not doing that? Oh, because I'm not beautiful enough. I said, here we are. It starts, you know, the inner self-talk You're not beautiful enough, you're not enough smart enough, feeling enough, this. And that I said you're waiting for the perfect time, the perfect moment, the perfect situation to be that woman. I say that's not how it works.

Karen Sarmento:

14:45

Yeah, that's awesome Cause we'll see it in somebody else, another woman yeah, that's for her, not for me.

Ana Salido:

14:52

Yeah, she could do that or she can ourselves a lot as women. And there is I think there is an idea as well of you know, that idea of being perfect. You know I'm not, and it's also, you know, it's going back to how we describe ourselves, you know, and sometimes it comes from, you know, when you're a child, a young child. I remember a client of mine saying to me oh, anna, for a long time, from my parents, my family, my friends I heard that, oh, you're shy. And so she started describing herself as being shy. And then, you know, in her 20s, then she went to see a psychologist, she took a personality test. You know, in her 20s, then she went to see a psychologist, she took a personality test you know, you believe in it or not, that's another story but you know, took the test and then she realized, you know, she was like but actually I'm not shy, you know at all. The test was saying the actual opposite. And then she realized, and I remember she said to me well, anna, I described myself that way because that's what I heard all my life. So then it became, it became something. It became, you know, yes, I'm shy when she was like actually, no, I'm not. I am more an introvert because, you know, I get my energy by spending a lot of time by myself, because being around people can drain me. But I'm not shy, I can go and talk to anyone.

Ana Salido:

16:23

So you know, I believe you know it's, uh, it's the way we were raised, what we heard when we were young as well, because when all your life you hear something about yourself. Well, if you hear that all the time, that's because it's true. So you know when. If you hear some and it doesn't, it doesn't because you know it doesn't come from a bad place. But you know like, oh, you're shy, or you're not tall enough. You know to wear that dress, or you know you're not. I know you're not thin enough, you can't. You know, don't, don't do that, or you should be careful with that, or it becomes something. Do you know what I mean? Something that you don't have, something when you're not enough. So then when you look at other women, you see what you think you don't have unbelievable.

Karen Sarmento:

17:07

Yeah, I can so relate because I had always all my life been told I was shy, even introduced that way. Oh, she's shy, she's, she's shy. So I always and I would just like your client introduce myself as shy oh no, not me, don't pick on me, I'm super shy. Wow, and we do carry that with us. Unbelievable. What are some ways? So we, these limiting beliefs have kind of been instilled over the course of our lifetime? What are some ways that people can begin to undo that? If they catch themselves, what can you do to change?

Ana Salido:

17:49

that, you know, can start as well. And you know it took me a long time because studying psychology, you know, when you hear some of the theories, you know when it's all about the childhood and everything is about the mom and, to be honest with you, when I was in in, you know, studying psychology, I was, I don't believe in. That for me doesn't make any sense. I found my way, you know, with with that work because I absolutely believe that you know from the between, you know, like the way we are born until we are seven, it's all about what we hear from parents, family, friends, people around us. Do you know what I mean? So I absolutely believe that, yes, there is some work that needs to be done because, yes, we are adults now we can see that some of the things can be silly, but it's so ingrained, you know, in us that we need to realize.

Ana Salido:

18:46

You know like there is an inner child. Just visualize her. You know like it can be your five, your four, your six, whatever. What does she need? You know? And when you know I, you know some of my trans women I work with they just sit there and being like, oh wow, it's just I never, you know, like I never thought about that and I'm like no, because we think that now, because one woman like it's not part of your life anymore, when you still play your life, even without realizing.

Karen Sarmento:

19:17

Wow, if you could say something to your inner child, what would you say?

Ana Salido:

19:24

I would say I would say to her so many things, but I know, right, you know there is.

Ana Salido:

19:31

But I was going to say the you know the cliche of you know like everything is going to be fine, or be yourself and I would say all of that to her. But I think, you know, as a child, it's like my inner child, not like I missed anything on that, you know like I think I had, you know, like a great childhood, you know, but I think a child, my inner child, all we want is love and support at the end of the day, and I think that the inner work we can do now as adults that's the best thing we can do it's to nurture you, that inner child, by I love you, you're enough, it's gonna be okay, you know what do you need. And to listen to that inner child with whatever fears you know comes up. So I don't necessarily think I would say anything to her. I would be more, you know, like bringing that support and, yeah, nurturing, you know, and safety. You know that it's going to be okay.

Karen Sarmento:

20:30

Beautiful. You mentioned something earlier about feeling the need to be perfect and it made me think. All too often we feel like we have to show up in a way that's perfect and if we're not, somehow we're going to be found out like, oh my gosh, I'm not perfect, and I wish one of my goals is to get that message out there, that we're not perfect. None of us are, and we're all going through stuff and getting by and just kind of keep showing up, but that need to be perfect is just not achievable.

Ana Salido:

21:08

Yeah, absolutely Absolutely, and at least for myself, I know that. You know the idea behind it needs to be perfect. If it's not perfect, I'm not going to do it. There was a huge fear as well of being seen at the end of the day. You know, I'm scared of being judged, I'm scared of rejection. I'm scared Do you know what I mean? I think behind perfection, that idea, there is also a lot of fears. And if we want to get past, you know, through that idea of I need to be perfect, we need to realize, you know, what am I scared of?

Karen Sarmento:

21:44

Right, that's a great point. What's behind that need to be perfect?

Ana Salido:

21:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, Because we all want to do, you know, to be great in life, I think, or to be good, you know, depending on what we aim for. But you know that idea of I need to be a perfect mom, you know, I need to be perfect at work, I need to show up in a perfect way on social media, I need to, whatever that is, you know, at the end of the day it's like why is that?

Karen Sarmento:

22:11

you know, why am I scared of yeah To the, to the woman out there that's listening right now who's saying that you know my past, or mistakes I've made, or all my imperfections. They're carrying those around. How can people begin to let go of the worry about the imperfections?

Ana Salido:

22:35

For me, and I remember it was a coach. I was, you know, in a masterclass and that coach was saying you know something along the line, now I live my life. You know the way I want to remember it and the way I want to tell the story, you know, in the future. And for me these days, sometimes it takes me, it's that's huge, you know, and sometimes it takes me a bit of time. But about my past now I'm like without it I wouldn't be the woman I am now. So you, you know, I'm grateful for it. Now, it took me some time. You know some aspect of my life. It took me really some time to say I'm grateful for it, because I can see some positive or at least how it helped me to be where I am now. And I think there is two ways, you know, to see it. It's either it keeps haunting you and keep you down, or then you realize that's my past. I can't change it. It's part of who I am, it's part of my story and I'm going to do something with it.

Karen Sarmento:

23:39

I love that so much. That's very empowering. I love that. You said without those challenges, I wouldn't be the woman that I am today Beautiful, I love it. How do you work with women? What does your coaching framework kind of look like?

Ana Salido:

23:55

when people sign up to work with you. So for a long time I was doing so. It was the one-on-one, which I still do. But I have been working on a four-week program called the Modern Woman.

Ana Salido:

24:10

When I take, you know, women on a journey you know to learn about. You know setting boundaries, learning how to say no, communicate their needs, understand their needs. You know thrive in their life, eyes themselves and understand, you know, change the mindset around. You know change the mindset around. You know I need to be there for everyone else and everyone else instead of you know I'm going to start with myself, because that's how it starts. You know it starts with ourselves. So, women, you know I think we need to change that mindset because you know I always say stop being nice, stop being kind. You know, behind the being nice, be the nice girl, be the good girl.

Ana Salido:

24:52

There is an idea for me of self-sacrificing. You know, do something even if you don't want to do it. Be nice, be, don't be difficult. You know when for me, be kind. You can still be kind, you can still show kindness and still set boundaries and stand up for yourself. And that's my biggest, you know, mission for women to understand that it's not because you show up for yourself first that you are selfish, that you're not good a good mom, you're not a good partner, you're not a good wife, you're not. That's actually the opposite. But to understand that we need to change the mindset. Because when it starts from a young you know, when you're a young girl and you hear, oh, be nice, oh, come on, you know, like play, go and play with your cousins or your siblings, you don't want to, but don't be difficult. You know I need you to do that, please just go. I need you to do it. You know it's just.

Ana Salido:

25:42

And then we wonder how, how, why has we met? You know, growing up, we keep doing it yes, yeah, I'm laughing because I can completely.

Karen Sarmento:

25:52

They recall times that that I heard those same things, yeah. Or if you were using something or eating something, oh, give that to so, and so they want it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, where the people pleaser came in. That's so great Powerful work you're doing, really powerful. Thank you, yes, anything you want to share with the audience that we haven't touched upon?

Ana Salido:

26:22

Not necessarily at that stage it's more you know, like for the women you know listening to us stage.

Ana Salido:

26:28

It's more you know like for the for the women you know listening to to us. I would just like to say you know, most of the time when I say that to you, to my clients, to women, you know, and I can see they have, you know, like tears in their eyes. You know I always say to them you are enough. Just you know, if there is something you need to, you know the biggest takeaway of you know that session or you starting working with me is I want you to know that you want enough. You might not feel it, you might not see it yet, but just keep that in mind and that's why I would like to you know to share with the audience wherever you are in your journey. You are enough with where you are at and your journey is there to you know, to show you something. That's your journey, that's your story, with wherever you're at and it's going to be okay and you don't need to do it alone. Awesome.

Karen Sarmento:

27:17

Beautiful. Thank you so much, anna. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me. Yes, where can people find you?

Ana Salido:

27:27

Mostly on Instagram. That's where I share the most. I think it's a good way to connect. On the platform you can text easily or reply to comments and I think it's a really great way to connect. So it will be through my Instagram.

Karen Sarmento:

27:43

Anna, thank you again for being here. What a pleasure, what a great conversation. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. And thank you to the listeners for being here for another episode of we Are Meant For More. Remember, whatever challenges you're facing or have faced in the past, they don't define you. You are worthy, capable and destined for greatness. Let's embrace the whispers of possibility together, because together we rise and we are meant for more.

This was a 6-2 Studio production. Find us at six-two.studio for all your creative sound needs.