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by Marialejandra Gutierrez, M.A.
Growing up as a first-generation daughter of immigrants has its unique challenges, from creating a roadmap to success with little to no guidance, to navigating cultural and societal norms and expectations about gender, and managing generational differences within the family. The impact of these experiences can be damaging to your emotional health in particular, your self-esteem, mood, anxiety levels, and connection to self and others. It is vital that as a first-generation daughter of immigrants you learn how to nurture your emotional well-being during these circumstances.Â
You already know the value of education, hard work, and achieving financial security. But what about the value of building emotional wealth?
You already know the value of education, hard work, and achieving financial security. But what about the value of building emotional wealth? Emotional wealth refers to the value of nurturing, connecting with, and investing in your emotional well-being in order to live a thriving and fulfilling life (Casey, 2011).
Family customs, traditional beliefs and values, religious heritage, rigid child rearing practices, and enforcement of socio-emotional expectations all frequently overlook the importance of emotional wealth. For first-generation daughters of immigrants, the degree of impact may be higher, especially because you are more likely to have experienced limited freedom and autonomy, gender-based double standards, and judgment for displaying your emotional vulnerability.
Although you may not have been taught to focus on your emotional health nor provided with tools to learn to build emotional wealth, it does not mean it is too late for you to prioritize and nurture your emotional well-being. Building emotional wealth involves a conscious effort and active practice of 1) self-awareness, 2) embracing your emotional vulnerability, and 3) practicing self-love:
1. Self-Awareness: Self-awareness refers to your ability to look inward, think deeply about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and gain clarity. Developing self-awareness will help you gain a deeper understanding of your own beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors, and emotions and help you feel more connected to yourself.
2. Embracing your emotional vulnerability: Emotional vulnerability is your willingness to acknowledge, feel, and express your emotions. Learning to welcome and embrace your emotions will help you feel more comfortable in navigating your emotions, build empathy, and improve interpersonal relationships.
3. Practicing Self-Love: Self-love refers to having concern for one's own well-being and joy. Self-love is about valuing your own worth and recognizing that you are worthy of love and respect in all areas of life. Practicing self-love can include being self-compassionate, engaging in self-expression, self-acceptance, and acts of self-care such as prioritizing sleep and nourishing your body.Â
Join the movement of first-generation daughters of immigrants reclaiming their path toward building emotional wealth. While on this journey, remember to be kind to yourself, make some time for self-care, and remind yourself that this is a learning process.Â
If you need some support in this journey, feel free to reach out to us for a free video consultation to see how e can be of help.
Marialejandra is an associate at TOC Therapy. She works with first generation students and daughters of immigrants who want to improve their self-esteem and learn to trust themselves with navigating academia and managing stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and guilt associated with the pressures and expectations of being a first-generation child of immigrants.
She is under the clinical supervision of Deniss Pleiner, M.A. LMFT. CA #117208
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