We recently connected with Marycarmen Portillo and have shared our conversation below.
Marycarmen , so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
I had a mom who was kind of strict when it came to active discipline , and she made me stop creating excuses. Over the years, I had to learn how to approach this in a kinder way. I found myself scolding myself every time I wasn’t doing something that I considered “not productive,” which ultimately hurt me. I was doing it to silence those voices in my head, particularly my mom’s voice. I love my mom, of course, and she never intended to raise me that way, but that’s how I interpreted it as a child.
As an adult I realized what I was doing to myself, I started analyzing my thoughts and convincing myself of what I needed in a loving way. Now my process looks like this: What do I want? Let’s say the answer is that I want to learn English so I can communicate with more people and understand movies, music, and books better. To achieve that, I should start exposing myself to the language and investigate how to do it. I try to always remember: I want to learn because doing so will bring me one step closer to my goal, which will make me happier. I created motivation and enthusiasm for researching ways to learn.
Once I gather the information, I realize I need to study grammar, possibly take classes, and watch content without subtitles. Again, this is because I want to learn, and if I pursue it, I will feel more connected to the language and closer to my goal. By focusing on what I want, I am generating motivation and enjoyment from whatever I plan to do.
In my mind, when I engage in these activities, it’s because I want to, because I enjoy them, and because they will make me feel fulfilled. It’s almost like tricking my brain to create a sense of sparkle and passion for the process, using the end goal as motivation while focusing on the journey itself—the feelings and positive sensations that every little activity brings me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m an artist focused on acting and dancing. I feel drawn to projects that convey a clear and strong message—those that carry life lessons and are often a bit more dramatic, even painful to portray. While I enjoy comedy like the vast majority of people here, I feel a deeper connection to drama, to those secret feelings and pains that many of us carry on our backs, often trying to deny them or not knowing what to do with them.
What I find special about my art is that I aim to transform all those so-called negative experiences in my life into something meaningful for others by uniting both of my passions. I have a strong knowledge of my body; I’m a kinesthetic person who knows how to use my body to convey emotions and thoughts, not just through words or facial expressions but through every single part of me, even my toes. I believe that body language is the most powerful way to connect with others because that’s what many people perceive and instinctively know how to interpret without even realizing it. Thanks to my extensive dance background, I’ve mastered those little details that allow me to add depth to my work, serving the audience by helping them understand on a deeper subconscious level, and hopefully, being of aid to them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My commitment has truly helped me break through barriers and become resilient. I have a strong dedication to everything I do, and I believe that if you’re going to do something, you might as well give it your all. I’m honestly always focused on serving the mission, my coworkers, the organization, and myself. I approach everything with commitment out of respect, which has helped me navigate many difficult situations and the ups and downs of life. My advice would be to concentrate on the reasons behind your actions, and enjoy what you do. As we say in Spanish hold on to all that so you can keep going.
Another really important skill is to take action. It can be easy to think and plan, but the faster you act, the better. You might get it wrong, but I believe that’s part of taking action—trial and error. By doing it, you create the habit of working towards whatever goal or intention you have. Start acting in any way you can, even if it’s a small step, like investigating or calling. If you have the time, just start doing it—we always have the time. Normally, we are afraid of the outcomes, failure, and embarrassment. But honestly, do it even with fear. You will eventually find a way to stop letting fear hold so much power over you. Remember, fake it till you make it.
Last but definitely not least, passion. I’ve always felt that love is the most powerful source for everything. When you deeply love something, you can always choose to love with passion. That’s my motivation; it drives me to keep trying, even when I fail. No matter what I face, I always stand up and carry on. Thanks to my passion, I can ignore the hardest or most uncomfortable parts of a play or a class. It allows me to go beyond my limits and bring out the best version of myself. My advice would be to always pursue what you are passionate about. Regardless of the challenges you encounter or what others may say, holding on to your passion will help you overcome any obstacles. Your passion exists for a reason, it brings joy to your soul, so nurture it with the love it deserves.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I’ve had plenty of different activities to do each day for as long as I can remember. My mom always made sure I had something to do, which was honestly a blessing. However, one of the downsides was that I often felt overwhelmed and stressed. The worst part was that I became so accustomed to those feelings that I didn’t recognize them until 2020, when I had to stop many of those activities. That year was the first time I really rested, and let me tell you, it was one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever learned. It changed my life by making me aware of my feelings and how they affected me.
After four years of trying different ways to calm myself, I’ve found that being in the present helps. The first thing I do is write down everything I have to do, including details if I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed. Then, I try to distract myself for 5 or 10 minutes with my cat, playing something, reading, walking, or if a bigger break is needed, exercising. Just something that gives my mind a breather because I’ve just added more load by writing everything down.
Once I’m in a clearer mental space, I start prioritizing tasks based on due dates, emergencies, my health, and what makes me feel better. If I need to, I take another little break and then come back to make a plan, deciding what I’ll do first or which activity or activities will help me the most. Always reminding myself that my plan is flexible and that I might have to make changes throughout. In the beginning, I had to formulate backup plans, but now I just go with the flow and adapt according to the day.
If needed, I take one final break before starting my plan, trying to forget about the entire plan beforehand. When I begin, I focus on the present day and the first activity. I immerse myself in that activity, letting go of everything else so I can enjoy it and do it well without rushing. After that, I read and do the second activity and concentrate only on that, staying present in what I’m doing at that moment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycarmen_portillo/?hl=es
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marycarmenportillo20/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marycarmenportillo9234
Image Credits
Estefania Estrada David Flores Rubio Alexandro Carbajal Kim Fowler Arturo Garcia Alexis Masariegos
