We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sabrina Suarez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sabrina below.
Sabrina, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
My empathy was born in a small, multi-family starter home in Southbridge, Massachusetts, where I lived as a young girl with my much-too-young parents and little sister. It bloomed in a household where everyone was still learning how to be—parents learning how to parent, children learning how to navigate the unpredictable tides of love and frustration. It was watered by long nights filled with noise, laughter, arguments, and reconciliation—by the push and pull of growing up together before anyone was truly ready.
One afternoon, we were driving home from my grandmother’s house. I sat in the back seat with my sister beside me, while my parents chatted in Spanish up front. My sister did something small, something easily forgettable now, but it caught my father’s attention.
“You shouldn’t do that,” he said, his voice stern as his eyes met hers through the rearview mirror.
I felt a tightening in my stomach, an invisible string pulling me toward her. I wanted to hide her, to make her invisible under his gaze. The discomfort grew until I blurted out, “She didn’t do it. I told her to.”
My father paused, his fingers drumming lightly against the steering wheel as we rolled to a red light. I waited, heart pounding, shoulders squared, ready to absorb whatever fallout came next. Deep down, I knew I could take it. I wanted to take it for her.
“Why would you take the blame for something you didn’t do?” His voice held curiosity more than anger.
“Better me than her,” I said, as if it were obvious.
He glanced back at me for a moment before accelerating through the green light. “You would do that for your sister? I’m not sure my brother would do that for me.”
As I looked out the window at the passing houses, the world moving as fast as my mind, I considered his question. I had been on the receiving end of that stare, unsure of what the punishment would be. It varied. From a light scolding to privileges taken away, sometimes as far as a physical punishment. I understood, and as I looked at her cherub face, I knew I didn’t want that for her. I knew that I could handle the consequence and she couldn’t. So I took it. Not because I was brave, but because I couldn’t stand to see her afraid. Because I wanted to see her happy, even if it meant I couldn’t be.
Empathy became more than an emotion. It became a language I spoke fluently before I had the words for it. It was shaped by a home that was imperfect and unpredictable. A home where I learned to read body language before words, to sense tension before it erupted, and to soothe it when I could.
Empathy, for me, grew out of necessity. It was survival and softness braided together. It was the instinct to say I’ll take this one for you—not because it was easy, but because love made it feel like the only choice.
And if given the choice again, I know I would do the same.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have two businesses, the first is Sabiartistry LLC, a creative, conscious digital marketing agency for women-led businesses. Unlike other marketing agencies, I co-create custom, comprehensive marketing strategies, pair it with ongoing accountability, and bring it to life through content creation experiences.
The other, Grow Your Grace LLC, is my therapist and facilitator practice where I support individuals and couples with healing relational wounds, improving communication, and deepening emotional intimacy so they can experience more authentic, connected, and fulfilling relationships.
What I’m most excited about supporting folks with right now is marketing, using The Content Collective, a community for female founders who want to go from overlooked to fully booked without stressing about what to post, when, or it it’s even working, using our signature sales and marketing strategies.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Self-trust was the foundation. As a therapist, facilitator, and business owner, I’ve had to make countless decisions without a clear map, trusting my intuition when logic wasn’t enough. For those just starting out, I’d say: practice listening to yourself before looking outward for validation. Build a relationship with your inner voice. It will become your most reliable compass.
Emotional intelligence shaped the way I lead, create, and connect. Learning to hold space for other people’s emotions without absorbing them, and being aware of my own patterns and triggers, has allowed me to show up with authenticity and empathy. To develop this, invest time in self-reflection, therapy, or mindfulness. The more you understand your inner world, the better you’ll navigate the outer one.
Storytelling has shaped me as a person, and given me the ability to communicate truth in a way that moves people. Whether I’m crafting marketing for clients or holding space in a session, it’s all about helping people feel seen. For anyone wanting to grow in this area, start by sharing your experiences, even in small ways. The more honest you are, the more resonance you create.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One book that has profoundly shaped both my personal and professional growth is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I return to it every year—especially when I need to remember who I am beyond the expectations of others. It’s become my lighthouse in the dark, a steady beam that guides me back home to myself whenever I start to drift away.
One of the most powerful messages from the book is the simple yet grounding truth that “we can do hard things.” Those words have carried me through some of the most challenging seasons of my life. They remind me that difficulty isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and resilience.
Another includes: “When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.” I’ve spent a lot of my life pleasing others, and sometimes the pull to please is stronger than the pull to remain true to myself. I, like many other women I know, need the reminder that it is impossible to please everyone, but the one person we are truly capable of pleasing is ourselves, if we give ourselves the permission to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sabiartistry.com
- Instagram: @sabiartistry @growyourgrace
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-suarez-lsw-4212a4228/
Image Credits
Celeste Davia Photography
Tyler Botdorf
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