Listen in:
This conversation is going to shift how you think about success, abundance, and where you belong. I’m sitting down with my vecina Rebecca Gitana-Torres, a spiritual guide who rematriated to Puerto Rico after realizing the American Dream was never meant for people like us. We’re talking about what true abundance actually means, the colonial lie that keeps us chasing external validation, and why you need to stop clinging to what you’ve already outgrown.
Real talk: how many of you are holding onto shit that you’ve completely outgrown?
The job that no longer challenges you. The relationships that feel more like obligations than connections. The version of yourself that doesn’t fit who you’re becoming.
If you’re gripping onto these things like your life depends on it, you can’t receive what’s next.
What does true abundance actually mean? (Spoiler: it’s not about your bank account)
When most people hear the word “abundance,” they immediately think about money. Stack that dinero, grow that net worth, hit those income goals. And yes, financial abundance matters. But true abundance? That’s a completely different conversation.
True abundance is the understanding that true wealth comes from within, not from external validation, material possessions, or geographic location. It encompasses spiritual fulfillment, emotional well-being, authentic relationships, and alignment with your values—not just your bank account balance.
My vecina Rebecca Gitana-Torres (yes, we literally own property in the same place in Puerto Rico) came on the show to talk about rematriation, spiritual transformation, and why so many of us have been sold a colonial lie about what success actually looks like.
Rebecca is a spiritual guide who creates transformation cocoons in Puerto Rico for people ready to step into their next version of themselves. And this conversation? It hit different.
The colonial lie that keeps us broke
One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was when Rebecca talked about rematriation versus economic migration. If you know anything about Puerto Rican history, you know that between the 1960s and 1980s, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans left the island for the mainland.
Why? Because they were told there was no opportunity on the island. No pathway to the American Dream. No abundance to be found in their own homeland.
As Rebecca put it: “One of the biggest lies in colonialism is the idea that you have to leave your patria to receive abundance or to tap into resources when most 99.99% of the time we have all the resources. We have the water, we have the land, we have the fertility. But part of that distraction and pulling us away is so that way others can come in and claim those resources.”
Let that sink in for a minute.
Our ancestors were told they had to leave everything they knew to find success somewhere else. And now, generations later, so many of us are realizing that the American Dream we were chasing? It doesn’t fucking exist. At least not the version our parents were sold.
Your abundance isn’t tied to your location
Rebecca became the first person in her lineage to rematriate back to Puerto Rico. Not as a tourist visiting family, but as someone choosing to build her life on the island—on her own terms.
And here’s what she realized: “My abundance has nothing to do with where I am or even who’s hiring me or what opportunities I have, but like my magnetic energy.”
That’s the reframe right there. Your abundance isn’t tied to your location, your job title, or who validates you. It’s internal.
For me, coming back to Puerto Rico as an adult and forming my own relationship with the island outside of just “visiting Abuela” was life-changing. I had to undo so much programming about there being “nothing there for me.” That’s bullshit. And the more I connected with my roots, the more I realized how much abundance actually exists when you’re aligned with who you are and where you come from.
Stop seeking external validation—it will always leave you empty
This is where Rebecca dropped some serious gems. We talked about how so many of us—especially high-achieving women—are stuck chasing external validation.
The degree. The job title. The corner office. The fancy business card. Other people’s approval.
But here’s what Rebecca said that stopped me in my tracks:
“You have to first of all understand that any value for yourself that you seek outside of yourself is either temporary or not really real. Because other people’s perceptions of you can shift and change, the weather can shift and change, but you within yourself have to define your value.”
Other people’s opinions of you will change. That promotion you’re chasing? Someone else might value it differently tomorrow. The validation you get from your job? It disappears the second you leave that role.
The only person who has the power to give yourself value is YOU.
Rebecca shared her own journey of leaving her city job in the Bronx over 20 years ago. At 17 or 18, she walked back into her alma mater—South Bronx High School—and basically said “I need a job with benefits, let’s do this.”
But even in that “regular” job as a school aide, her spiritual gifts kept showing up. By the time she left, she was being called in before guidance counselors to do interventions with families. That had nothing to do with her job description—it was her natural gifts coming through.
And that’s the thing: you can develop your sense of value and discover your gifts in ANY job. Bartending. Waiting tables. Working retail. These aren’t “just” jobs—they’re opportunities to understand what you uniquely bring to any space.
What are you clinging to that you’ve already outgrown?
This was the mic drop moment of the entire episode.
Rebecca asked: “What are you clinging onto that you really desire something greater in that place?”
Think about it. What are you holding onto right now?
Is it habits that no longer serve you? Relationships that have run their course? A job you’ve completely outgrown? An old identity that doesn’t fit who you’re becoming?
As someone who has transitioned into multiple new identities—new mom, wife, business owner—I’ve had to let go of so many versions of myself. And every single time, it felt scary as hell. But every single time, something better showed up.
We have to be okay with expansion. We have to be okay with outgrowing our old lives. That’s not a bad thing—it’s growth.
I’ve already outgrown my place in Puerto Rico. My family has grown. My business has evolved. And instead of clinging to what was, I’m making space for what’s next.
What magic could happen in your life if you stopped clinging to what no longer serves you?
Start here: clear the clutter first
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start, Rebecca gave the most practical advice at the end of our conversation:
Start by clearing clutter.
Not just physical clutter in your home (though yes, do that too). But mental clutter. Emotional clutter. Behavioral clutter.
Old thoughts that don’t serve you anymore? Get rid of them like those jeans that don’t zip anymore.
Activities and commitments that drain you? Clear them out.
Relationships that feel obligatory instead of fulfilling? It’s time to reassess.
After you clear the clutter, Rebecca said something that honestly changed my entire perspective: “You already have everything that you need to develop yourself now. Stop shopping, you don’t need another thing.”
She literally asks herself before buying anything: “Is this outfit gonna change my life? Is this thing gonna really improve my existence?”
If the answer is no, she doesn’t need it.
We’re so conditioned to think we need MORE—more courses, more certifications, more stuff, more validation—when really, we need to work with what we already have.
Be creative with what you have. Share the knowledge you already possess. You have everything you need right now to get to your next version.
What happens in a transformation cocoon?
Rebecca offers one-on-one transformation cocoons in Puerto Rico, and the way she described them honestly made me want to book one immediately.
Essentially, you come to her sanctuary and she creates this completely curated experience for you. She cooks for you. She mothers you. She sisters you. You do rituals in nature together.
The people who work with Rebecca have already been on a spiritual journey. They’re not beginners looking for someone to tell them what to do. They’re ready for an activation toward their next version of themselves.
One of her clients—sisters who are 15 years older than Rebecca—said they had never been mothered that way in their lives.
A couple told her she “literally rewired our brain chemistry around intimacy.”
That’s the level of transformation we’re talking about.
Episode Takeaways:
- True abundance is about spiritual fulfillment, emotional well-being, and alignment with your values—not just your bank account
- The colonial lie told our ancestors they needed to leave their homelands to find abundance
- Your abundance comes from your magnetic energy, not your location or who validates you
- External validation is temporary and will always leave you feeling empty
- You are the only person who has the power to give yourself value
- “Regular” jobs are opportunities to discover and develop your unique gifts
- Rematriation is about reclaiming your roots and building life on your own terms
- Stop clinging to old identities, relationships, and habits that no longer serve you
- If you’re holding on tight, you can’t be open to receive what’s next
- Everything has its expiration date—don’t try to extend things beyond their purpose
- Clear the clutter first: physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral
- You already have everything you need right now to become your next version
- Stop shopping for more courses, certifications, and stuff—work with what you have
- Ask yourself: “Is this going to change my life or improve my existence?” before buying anything
- Transformation cocoons are for people already on a spiritual journey ready for activation
- The American Dream was never designed for people like us—redefine success on your own terms
This episode is proof that abundance starts from within. When you stop seeking validation outside yourself and start tapping into your magnetic energy, everything shifts. The places you live, the people you surround yourself with, and the identity you step into all flow from that internal foundation.
If you’re ready to stop clinging to what you’ve outgrown and create space for what’s next, this conversation will give you the permission you need to let go.
Connect with Rebecca: RebeccaGitana.com or on Instagram: @RebeccaGitana
Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel! Subscribe here.
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Until next time, stay empowered, stay inspired and #StayPoderosa ✨
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