How Jennifer Lopez found unshakable self-worth after a tumultuous year

Jennifer Lopez has revealed the profound personal growth she has experienced following her high-profile divorce from Ben Affleck in 2024.

In an emotional preview of her interview on Nightline, aired Wednesday, the 56-year-old performer explained her decision to withdraw from the public eye to process the separation.

To confront her reality rather than seeking distractions, the actress made the significant choice to halt her professional commitments.

“I had to stop everything and I took a year off. I canceled tours,” Lopez disclosed, adding that she "just decided to be home and sit in what had happened without running away from it."

This period of isolation has led to what she describes as a newfound sense of independence. “I’m in my happy era,” she remarked. “I think, for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m free; I’m on my own. And it feels really good.”

Lopez admitted that she had rarely been without a partner since her early twenties, often feeling as though aspects of her life were "out of her control."

Central to her recovery was the presence of her twins, Emme and Max. “(Emme and Max were) the priority at that time,” she stated, noting that she needed to stay home to "figure myself out" rather than assigning blame.

This introspective journey has allowed her to foster a stronger sense of self-worth. “I’ve gotten to the point where I really trust myself and appreciate myself a little bit more, instead of being so hard on myself and always trying to prove myself,” she concluded.