- I think this is where we start to grow,
is when we realize
that there's a lot of thoughts in our head,
and they don't define you.
You are not your thoughts,
you are not your feelings.
You can observe them and you can choose
to subscribe to certain stories in your mind,
or not to subscribe to them.
It's not easy, but I think it's possible.
And I think I'm just learning how to view those things
when they come up and be like, "Okay, okay, buddy.
"You can keep saying that,
but it doesn't necessarily mean it's true."
And try to listen,
or create more of an inner voice that's positive.
Hey, what's up, guys?
This is Lauv and this is "Feel Better."
Honestly, it's kinda gone in different places.
I started off in a slightly stressed out place
when I woke up.
And then, I did a really nice meditation
and I actually spoke really loudly.
I was doing affirmations in the middle of it,
and that really helped me a lot.
And then I kind of went on a Twitter rant.
And then now I'm chill.
So, yeah.
Yeah, I think the first time that I really opened up
about my mental health
was towards the beginning of last year, 2019,
after I basically hit a rock bottom in January
where a lot of 2018 I was going downhill.
I didn't really understand what it was.
I was just having increased obsessive anxiety
that just got worse and worse and worse.
Which I think led me to become really depressed
'cause the obsession just got in the way of my life
really badly.
So I was like,
if I can open up about my story,
one, I'll feel more free
'cause I think being vulnerable leads to freedom.
And two, other people can read it,
and maybe if they relate in some way it does something.
Honestly meditating, like that,
no matter what kind of day I'm having,
if I sit down for a few minutes
and just really commit to it,
that helps me a lot.
But I guess I will say,
when I put my album out,
that really, that was really nice.
It's like a nice breath of fresh air.
So I tried to meditate on and off for honestly a few years.
I was told to do it.
I tried apps and so on and so forth
and I felt like I would go for maybe a week tops
and then I would be too anxious
and I couldn't keep going.
But a big part of it really was,
once I started to imagine-
I know that sounds kinda weird-
but imagine my chest cavity opening,
and my heart, everything that's not serving me
or serving everybody else just flowing away,
and just trying to breathe in positivity
and success and happiness,
and just sort of visualizing that really helps me.
And then just speaking,
'cause I feel like there's so much power in speaking
love that you have for people,
appreciation you have for people,
appreciation you have for things in your life,
things that you want.
I don't know, I can go on for hours.
I find just opening yourself up to the things
that might seem kinda uncomfortable or weird at first
can really change your life.
So I think it's, yeah, it's really special.
This also might sound kinda weird.
I hate judging myself but,
I'll say something in my mediation like,
"Let us be guided, let us follow our hearts."
Just something that takes the power outside of myself,
to put trust, that there's something,
whether it's a gut within or just something out there.
I don't know what it is,
that if you listen to it,
you can be guided in the direction you're meant to go.
It's interesting, the whole thing about guys not-
I guess right now-
not going to see a therapist and opening up as much.
I do feel like that's changing, which is really nice.
I think just by example,
more men opening up,
and I do think at least in certain places,
this strict definition of masculinity and stuff
is sort of evolving and kind of like, disintegrating,
which I think is really nice.
But yeah, I think it's just continuing
to move in that direction.
More people talking about it,
more people opening up and shattering that norm.
The last time I cried was yesterday.
I feel like the past few days have been like,
I don't know, stress relief crying
'cause I've been under so much pressure.
But now that I've finally put the album out and stuff,
I feel like I'm feeling a lot of,
it's just that stuff being processed.
And when I get gloomy,
I tend to be really nostalgic,
and so I cry about things in my past that I miss, I guess.
Getting out and doing something,
like doing something that's visceral
because for example,
I just started dancing recently, learning how to dance,
and it's pretty hard to be actually sad
while you're dancing.
You're gonna crack a smile, you're gonna laugh.
You're gonna have fun, regardless of if you're good or not.
So I feel like getting out there
and doing something really helps a lot,
'cause you get outside of your own head,
and you start interfacing with the world
and other people.
That's really nice.
Sleep is essential,
and I don't sleep enough.
Three things I'm good at.
I'm good at writing songs.
I'm good at being open.
And I don't want it to all be music-focused
but I'm good at singing.
What makes me proudest of myself?
Honestly, when I do things like this.
When I talk about these experiences,
'cause it's something I'm really passionate about,
and it's really helped me.
So, I don't know, it feels really good.
And also this makes me happy,
and being onstage makes me happy,
and writing music makes me happy,
and having deep conversations
with my friends and new people makes me happy.