Why I Take My Life Lessons From Selena Gomez

By Steven (he/him), who’s been a Selena Gomez fan for longer than he can remember.

Some people might look at Selena Gomez and think she’s got it all. Successful, no doubt. Talented, of course. UNICEF ambassador and most followed woman on Instagram? That’s her. But she’s also no stranger to challenges and problems. To name just a few… she’s been diagnosed with Lupus and bipolar, she’s been through some very public breakups, and she’s faced more than her fair share of trolls and bullying. But how she’s dealt with those ups and downs is mega inspiring. That’s why I’m taking my life lessons from Selena.

Be yourself

Whether it’s going barefoot at an awards ceremony because her shoes hurt, getting goofy in carpool karaoke, or creating a makeup line that celebrates people’s uniqueness, Selena steps up to remind us that it’s totally okay (and actually totally awesome!) to be exactly as you are. In her own words, “I want us all to stop comparing ourselves to each other and just start embracing our own uniqueness”. 

Don’t rise to the drama

Most people would find it beyond difficult to be trolled or dragged into media-fuelled petty dramas. But Selena does a pretty good job of not letting it bother her — and she encourages her followers to always be kind. At the height of a media-fuelled feud with Hayley Bieber, Selena urged her fans to stop sending Hayley hateful comments, saying "It doesn't matter what the situation is, if you're my fans don't be rude to anybody, please. Don't go off and say things that you just feel in the moment." 

Use your power wisely

Immigration is a hugely divisive issue in the US, and many people with massive platforms don’t speak out about it for fear of losing followers. But Selena’s determined to be a voice for people who are too afraid to speak. As a Mexican-American woman herself, whose aunt crossed the US border hidden in the back of a truck, Selena has taken it upon herself to help educate and engage people on the issue. For example, she’s been exec producer on the documentary Living Undocumented and in an interview with Time magazine she reminded people that, “How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are”. 

Advocate for mental health

Selena is a big advocate for mental health. She herself has experienced panic attacks, depression, and back in 2018 she went into a psychosis and was diagnosed with bipolar. And while some people may have struggled to be open about this diagnosis, Selena created a documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, where she really opened up about how living with a mental illness has affected her. What a queen she is!

Stay supportive of others

If you follow Selena on Instagram, you’ll know she’s always cheering on her friends and sending sweet shoutouts to her mum. In this competitive dog-eat-dog world of ours, we need more people to lift each other up — and Selena does that to the max!

Ask for help when you need it

This year, on International women’s day, Selena posted about self-love with the caption ‘Dear younger me, please don’t be afraid to ask for help ❤️’ 

Asking for help ain’t always easy. But if Selena can do it, then so can you!

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