Jenna Ortega - Its All Love: Reflections for Your Heart & Soul

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Cover and interior art copyright 2020 by Ali Mac

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ISBN9780593174562 (trade) ISBN9780593174579 (lib. bdg.) ebook ISBN9780593174586

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For my mom, who inspires everything I do

I interact with the world from a place of love and light. I see my own story in so many of those who reach out to me on social media or stop me on the street to share their struggles. I connect with supporters whose languages, lifestyles, and faiths differ greatly from mineyet, despite everything we dont have in common, we connect as people who face the same doubts and insecurities, who want to look in the mirror and find love in our reflections. Ive led a blessed life in many ways, but Ive also faced plenty of hard times. When I see a message from a follower about feeling lonely or not believing in their power, I identify. Because Ive felt it, too. I want you, my readers, to know that you are not alone. Were all more alike than most of us realize. Were in this together. Its all love.

Its my greatest hope that the honesty and heart Ive poured into these pages will bring some love and some light into your life. Theres so much I want to say about the power within us all to be kind to each other, to lift each other up, to be gracious with ourselves as we grow on this journey. Im sharing intimate, personal stories about embracing confidence and self-worth, taking chances, and working through stress and anxiety. I hope, by sharing my experiences and the advice I have from going through these situations myself, that I can help you face them.

I have been fortunate to be able to follow my passion for acting and do what I love every day. It took a lot of courage and determination to put myself out there in the business, to strive for roles I wasnt sure about, to count myself as a worthy choice for big projects. The idea of failing can be scary, but betting on yourself is beyond worthwhile. Were all on our own journeys. Its easy to compare myself to others, and it can be tough for me to appreciate my success and my hard-earned progress toward my goals when others are on their own (sometimes faster) trajectories. To honor your passions, to be confident in what you have to say and offer the world, to let go of fear, jealousy, and self-doubtthese are the most difficult things we can do. Its a practice, one that we have to live every day. Sometimes we win, and sometimes we dont. But we can always wake up the next morning ready to try again. Never let your fears stop you from working toward your dreams. You are in charge of your story.

All my love,

Jenna

The way I interact with the world comes from a place of love and light. Ive learned not to criticize, get caught up in negative energy, or speak badly about others. On subjects Im passionate about and involved in, I speak out in a positive way to bring people together to discuss important issues without hatred. And when I feel less informed about a topic, I make sure to educate myself.

When Im working, I try to bring love and positivity to the set with me every day. I love my craft, and Im so grateful that I get to follow my passion. I let that love pour out in small ways and big ways: doing nice, thoughtful things for the people Im working with goes a long way. Early mornings, late nights, and long days are often challenging, but they never get the best of me. I always remember how grateful I am just to be working. Its all a privilege.

A costar once pointed out to me that every time I interact with someone new on set, I pay them a compliment. At first, I worried it meant I was being a suck-up. But I realized that when I was in a very dark place in my life and someone would compliment me, even if it was about something small like my shoes, it would lift me up. I internalized that lesson, and I look for something to appreciate in another person when we first connect. You never know if someone is having a bad day, and maybe a small compliment will help bring them a smile. It can feel good just to be noticed.

I only want to do kind things because anything else is a waste of time and a waste of energy. Being mean doesnt improve your state of mind. Why not look for something positive?

I encourage my friends to focus on the personality traits of their crushes, not just looks. Someone who can challenge you intellectually and teach you something new about yourself is someone you can build a friendship with. The best relationships are always built on friendship first. Rather than get carried away by the attention or an initial attraction, I remind myself to really get to know someone. Trustworthiness, optimism, and a good sense of humor are very attractive to me. Life is stressful, so I need someone to help me feel good and see the positive. I also find kindness the most attractive quality in a guy. When I like someone, I want to see how he treats others who have nothing to give him in return, whether hes kind for the sake of being kind.