Maria Canals Barrera Quotations

Beauty inspires me - beauty in nature, people, and art. Smells and fragrances too. I know it sounds weird, but I'm a "fume head." I'm very olfactory-driven.

A good smell puts me in a great mood and even inspires my creativity.

My children inspire me with their innocence and enormous capacity to love.

As far as physical health goes, I try to eat in a balanced way, sleep enough, and stay active.

One of the hardest obstacles I've had to overcome in my life was not understanding how to draw healthy boundaries. I finally learned it's perfectly OK to say no.

Understanding what you're OK with and what you're not OK with is so important to learn.

Those who truly love and respect you will respect your boundaries. I think freeing oneself from codependency and fear is vital for well-being.

I stay healthy by dealing with things! Seriously, emotional and spiritual health is most important.

I stay balanced by remembering to prioritize. What is most important should never be railroaded by the "tyranny of the urgent." My relationship with God, my devotion to my husband, my responsibilities to my children, loving others, and, of course, remaining grateful for the blessings that I have. Like getting to do what I love for a living. And trust me, I am.

My advice for young Latinas interested in pursuing a career in Hollywood is to make sure you love to perform and make sure you get the training you need.