Selena Gomez Says Her “Years of Confusion and Being In Love” Were Worth It
Because of her past struggles, Gomez says her "best stuff is happening now."
Selena Gomez is perhaps just as celebrated for her mental health advocacy as she is for her wildly successful acting, singing, and entrepreneurial pursuits. And in a recent interview with The Newsette, Gomez recognized that one couldn’t exist without the other.
In the interview, Gomez and her mother, Mandy Teefey, spoke openly about their respective mental health struggles (Gomez recently revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder), and how the ongoing healing process has affected their work.
When asked whether Gomez’s renewed “focus on mental health and being happier” made it easier to launch her newest album than her previous albums, the star said, “None of what I’m doing now would have stemmed from the mindset I had before. My best stuff is happening now.”
In particular, she said that her difficult romantic experiences inspired some of that work, including the album’s first single, “Lose You to Love Me,” which may or may not be a commentary on her 2018 breakup with Justin Bieber.
Gomez continued, “The greatest thing ever in my music was ‘Lose You to Love Me’… I remember I had a moment where I couldn’t believe it, because the first and second day, the reactions were crazy, and I remember I smiled and I was like, That’s why it’s worth it. All of these years of confusion and being in love, and all of this stuff… and it was finally a clean slate.”
The single was an unmitigated success; but for Gomez, the real win “wasn’t even because everyone liked it; it was just a realization of why I went through everything I went through.”
Gomez also recognized that she wouldn’t have been able to adapt that positive mindset without having sought professional help—and having access to it. “That’s why I’ve always had dreams of having centers like Planned Parenthood, but just dedicated to mental health,” she said. “I believe mental health care should be accessible to everyone.”
Whether or not it involves opening a national network of free mental health clinics (fingers crossed, though), we’re excited to see how Gomez’s advocacy work continues to evolve—and (other fingers crossed) inspire more music in the future.
