At the Love, Bonito Trailblazers Summit, women from various fields came together to discuss the realities of modern womanhood—its triumphs, its struggles, and the ever-present challenge of balancing ambition with well-being. Held in celebration of International Women’s Month, the conference was a space for honest conversations about mental health, self-care, and career growth, with panelists including Love, Bonito co-founder Rachel Lim, Empath founder and CEO Steph Naval, and national athlete and mental performance coach Cam Rodriguez. Hosted by beauty content creator Belle Rodolfo, the event was a reminder that being a trailblazer isn’t only about breaking barriers—it’s making sure you don’t burn out doing it.
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No Empty Cup
During the panel, Naval shared this statement, which resonated with many in the audience. She explained that women, in particular, often find themselves constantly giving—to their families, careers, and communities—without stopping to replenish their own energy.
In an exclusive with MEGA, she further expounded, “We empty ourselves a lot to give to other people,” she said. “Whether it’s as a sister, a mother, or a daughter, we’re always expected to take care of others.”
But as she pointed out, giving endlessly without refilling your own reserves isn’t sustainable. “In order for us to be our best selves and give more, we need to replenish and fill that cup before we keep pouring our love to others,” she said. That means prioritizing self-care, whether through small indulgences like skincare or retail therapy, or deeper, more intentional practices like rest and emotional nourishment.
“I hope women remember that the same love they pour into others, they pour into themselves as well.”
– Empath founder and CEO Steph Naval on taking care of ourselves and others
Mental Health and the Trailblazer Mindset
Taking care of your mental health isn’t just a luxury, but a crucial part of being a leader. As the discussion pointed out, you can’t be a trailblazer if you can’t take care of your mental health—a sentiment Naval wholeheartedly reinforced. After all, what’s the point of breaking barriers if you’re too burnt out to walk through them?
She went on to emphasize that self-care requires discipline, not just indulgence. “Mental health isn’t about weakness or making excuses for yourself. It’s actually the smarter way of helping yourself heal, perform, and ultimately become the best version of yourself,” she said. “It requires resilience. Something as simple as sleeping at a certain time can be difficult when you’re busy or doom-scrolling on social media, but it’s a choice you have to make.”
Another key aspect? Managing negative thoughts. “When you catch yourself spiraling—thinking, ‘I hate myself because of this or that’—taking care of your mental health means stopping that cycle and grounding yourself back to your strengths,” she explained.
The Reminder We All Need
It’s not groundbreaking to say that taking care of yourself is important—most people know it in theory. But in the rapid, always-on pace of today’s world, it’s easy to forget to actually practice it. Between work deadlines, social commitments, and the endless digital noise demanding our attention, self-care often becomes an afterthought—something to squeeze in when there’s “time”, which, of course, never seems to exist.
While being a trailblazer pushes things forward, it’s also knowing when to pause, reflect, and take care of yourself along the way. If women want to continue breaking boundaries, they need to first take care of the foundation that allows them to do so—themselves.
It’s a reminder worth repeating, not because we don’t know it, but because we need to hear it again and again—until taking care of ourselves becomes second nature, not just a neglected footnote in our busy lives.
“For those who are choosing this path, I hope you don’t forget to prioritize yourself, to be consistent, to discipline yourself to take care of your well-being,” Steph Naval said. “Because the same love and care you give to others—you deserve that, too.”
To learn more about the Trailblazers collection, visit the Love, Bonito website
For more information about its mental health services, visit the Empath website
Photos: LOVE, BONITO PHILIPPINES (via Instagram)
