What Lady Gaga Taught Me About Self-Love and the Importance of Friendship

Last September, Lady Gaga announced the release of her Netflix Original Documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, which showed us the story behind making her album Joanne and her tedious preparation for her Super Bowl performance. 

#GagaFiveFootTwo, out now on @Netflix 🎥 https://t.co/63N4zGyyly pic.twitter.com/G72tYIJwBq

— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) September 22, 2017

I've been a Little Monster ever since The Fame era and followed as Lady Gaga turned from Poker Face to a woman with a Million Reasons. So a peek into Gaga's personal life was something very exciting for me. 

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She was very open and real in her documentary, sharing her emotional and physical pain with her audience and revealing that life isn't all glitz and glamour for her in spite of fronting an image of an international pop star.

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You can feel her real sadness as she talks about coping with successes and losses. Every time she gains success, she loses someone she loves - they end up leaving her. And so you see, just like any other normal human being, she felt alone.

Lady Gaga receives flowers from ex-fiancée Taylor Kinney before her Super Bowl performance / Netflix

Lady Gaga, a household name that influenced the world with her talent and vision of art, expressed her vulnerability and showed her fans her pain without filters, without scripts.

Lady Gaga hugs her grandma, emotional after playing her the song 'Joanne' for the first time / Netflix

After the release of her documentary, she has been very open to her audience and her fans about all the things she is going through. 

Thank you for meditating/sitting in silence/praying w me. Meditation really improves my mental health and reminds me it's important to stay calm so I can feel safe in my body. We are all one body, and the calmer we are, and the more we find inner peace, the more the world will too. You know the saying. "We are the World." ✌️🌈🌎🌸

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Oct 2, 2017 at 4:13pm PDT

From Lady Gaga I learned that pain chooses anybody. That regardless of how famous or how regular you think you may seem, emotional, mental, and physical pain may hit you. And it's okay if you just can't handle it anymore. 

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From Lady Gaga I learned how much loving and caring for yourself matter. That in spite of whatever it is you are going through, you deserve to surrender, step back, and breathe. That it's okay to lift yourself up by finding things you are good at and appreciating these moments.

Here are some "mantras" I will be using, if you choose to meditate with me I will explain how I use them. I usually alternate between two and find them very affective for calming down my nervous system. Otherwise silence and prayer are all welcome. This is time for you and us to come together in unity and peace.

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Oct 2, 2017 at 10:33am PDT

From Lady Gaga I learned that the way to cope up with these kinds of personal aches and loneliness is to surround yourself with people that love and care for you. She mentions her friends, fans, and family that is there by her side. That asking for help is not a weakness but a strength from you acknowledging that sometimes, you simply can't do it alone.

Thank you so much honey 🍯 B. Miss you.❤️🌹this was so kind. If I hadn't seen your videos on TV at grandmas house after I got dropped from def jam records, I would have given up. You inspire us all. The dream you embody kept me going.

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Sep 26, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

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Thank you @gigihadid & @tommyhilfiger for these generous gifts during my time of healing. Totally my style and so thoughtful and bad ass. My favorite combination. #tommyxgigi

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Oct 7, 2017 at 6:24pm PDT

From Lady Gaga I learned that sometimes, the best way to help yourself is to help other people selflessly in the best way you can.

While praying every day, I'm also donating $1Mil to relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, José, Maria and the Mexico City earthquake 🙏

— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) October 1, 2017

We all go through hardships and challenges in life. And from that I learned never to judge people based on who I perceive them to be at first glance because you'll never know what they have and are currently going through.

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Among all, Lady Gaga reminds me to be kind. That in this world full of hatred, anger, and meanness, kindness and love are some of the best things you can radiate.

Kindness Matters: Youth with high mental health inventory scores are significantly more likely to describe their environments as kind. 79% of “mentally healthy” high schoolers say their schools are kind places. However, 61% of youth describe themselves as stressed and 1 in 4 say they are nervous all or most of the time. 90% of youth think mental health is an important priority but less than half talk about it with anyone. ☹️ These statistics are highlights from a “Kind Communities Survey” done by @btwfoundation with Benenson Strategy Group. It focused on youth (15-24) and parents to explore the factors that impact youth mental wellness including a their relationship and environment. So simply, #BeKind #BeKind #WorldMentalHealthDay #BornThisWay #BornThisWayFoundation #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #depression #anxiety

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Oct 10, 2017 at 2:29pm PDT

So be kind and do not be afraid to give love to yourself and to others. Amidst all the pain, gather light to stay strong and positive and shine it on others. 

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