Selena Gomez, a name that is no stranger to the global public. Although she is an Emmy-nominated actress, singer, songwriter and currently the most followed woman on Instagram, Selena still faces thousands of difficulties like normal people. She faces difficulties and is not afraid to share them with  her 424 million fans – the community of “Selenators” and the public.

Since speaking to Billboard in 2015 about her lupus, she has learned to be more open about the chronic illness and her imperfections. In 2020, she opened up about her bipolar disorder on Miley Cyrus’ “Bright Minded” Instagram Live. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair’s September 2024 issue, Selena opened up about her struggles and  how she “resiliently” handles her mental health.

Let’s reflect on 7 lessons learned from this interview.

Learn to say I love you

Expressing your love for someone through words and actions not only makes them happy, but it also improves your own physical and mental health, such as lowering blood pressure, boosting your immune system, reducing stress levels, improving mood, and enhancing brain function. Selena’s close friend and Emilia Pérez co-star Zoe Saldaña told Vanity Fair that Selena is not a narcissist: “She’s the type of person who will show you 300 pictures of her sister, her parents, and her grandparents.”

Love Imperfect Things

In the interview, Selena Gomez opened up about her Instagram hiatus. In the past, she has told her “Selenators” when she decides to “detox,” but rarely sticks to the timeline. This time, she said, “I’ve learned not to talk about it too much,” and decided not to tell anyone about her hiatus. Selena realized that she doesn’t have to make a big statement about everything she wants to do, and that it’s okay to not achieve her goals. She’s learned to accept her own imperfections, that everyone makes mistakes and doesn’t accomplish what they set out to do.