The Best Celeb Advice That Could Change Your Life
Everyone needs a pick-me-up from time to time, and that can sometimes come from people like our family and friends, but believe it or not, it can also come from our favorite celebrities. While celebs may look like their lives are perfect on social media or on the red carpet, many of them have been through a lot to get where they are now. These artists, athletes, actors, musicians, and comedians pair their successes with a cornucopia of experiences. They have some pretty useful advice that could actually change your life or broaden your perspective.
These celebs' words might inspire you or give you the kick in the butt you need to get through the day. Their advice might motivate you to work toward your goals, face your fears, love yourself, or fight for those in need. Whatever it is, these celebs have you covered, so let's get into the best celeb advice that could change your life.
Taylor Swift says 'you have the right to prove them wrong'
Taylor Swift brings fans to tears with her music, but over the course of her career, she's also given some incredibly powerful speeches. From her Woman of the Decade speech at the Billboard Women In Music event to her Album of the Year acceptance speech at the Grammys, Swift knows how to make an impact. But one of her best speeches of all time was her Global Icon Award speech at the 2021 BRIT Awards. This speech stood out because she not only talked about her experience but also gave incredible advice to her fans.
While Swift may have a very different career path from most others, she explained that "there is no career path that comes free of negativity." She continued, "If you're being met with resistance, that probably means that you're doing something new. If you're experiencing turbulence or pressure, that probably means you're rising."
Swifties know that their leader has done many new things and has risen countless times throughout her career. She added, "There might be times when you put your whole heart and soul into something, and it is met with cynicism or skepticism. ... We live in a world where anyone has the right to say anything that they want about you at any time. But just please remember that you have the right to prove them wrong." That's some valuable advice.
Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't think money can buy you happiness
Leonardo DiCaprio may have countless acting credits, closets full of impressive awards, and hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank, but none of that is what truly makes him happy. It may sound easy to say such a thing with all the success DiCaprio has had, but he means it. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2016, he was candid about how to find happiness.
DiCaprio said, "I've been very lucky to have achieved a lot of the things that I dreamt of achieving as a young man. But, at the end of the day — and I truly believe this — it is not about achieving great wealth or success. Because they don't bring happiness ultimately. They really don't." So what advice does DiCaprio have for how to find happiness? He told The Telegraph, "What matters is whether or not you've fulfilled the idea of having led an interesting life, whether you've contributed in some way to the world around you." A great outlook from this "actor and environmentalist."
DiCaprio does more than hand out meaningful advice; he lives by it. "To date, through his philanthropic efforts, DiCaprio has provided more than $100 million in grants to a variety of programs and projects," per his bio on Re:wild, a conservation project of which he's the founding board member. The actor contributed to the launch of America's Food Fund for hunger relief and also uses his platform to raise awareness about climate change.
Lady Gaga changed her life by saying 'no'
Lady Gaga is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and her career has taken her from the Super Bowl Halftime Show to the Oscars and basically everywhere in between. But Gaga's true fans know her success wasn't overnight; she worked hard for it. She studied music at New York University, wrote music for other singers, and faced a lot of rejection before she made it (per MTV).
As her career blew up, Gaga said "yes" to every opportunity that came her way. Unfortunately, over time, she learned how that can be extremely draining. She lives her life differently now. During a speech at Yale University in 2015, Gaga gave the students advice about balance and how to work hard, while also maintaining happiness. She explained, "I feel sad when I'm overworked and that I've just become a money-making machine and that my passion and my creativity take a backseat. That makes me unhappy."
So, Gaga found a magic word that helped her not only find happiness, but find herself again. She said, "So what did I do? I started to say no. I'm not doing that. I don't want to do that. I'm not taking that picture. I'm not going to that event. I'm not standing by that because that's not what I stand for. And slowly but surely, I remembered who I am." It's always a good reminder to know how to say "no" and set a boundary for yourself. Thank you for that, Gaga!
Beyoncé says that being different is beautiful
Beyoncé isn't called Queen Bey for no reason. She is the queen of all things singing, acting, dancing, motherhood, business, and more. Beyoncé said in an August 2021 interview with Harper's Bazaar, "Mental health is self-care too." The star opened up about fame, saying, "Before I started, I decided that I'd only pursue this career if my self-worth was dependent on more than celebrity success."
It's no surprise that she wants others to be seen and heard for who they are. Beyoncé participated in YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 project and gave a powerful commencement address. She counseled the graduates on how to be successful if they "feel different." Beyoncé said, "To all those who feel different, if you are part of a group that's called 'other,' a group that does not get the chance to be center stage — build your own stage, and make them see you. Your queerness is beautiful. Your Blackness is beautiful. Your compassion, your understanding, your fight for people who may be different from you is beautiful."
And if the world doesn't accept you as you are, Beyoncé's advice is to keep going. She said, "I hope you will continue to go into the world and show them that you will never stop being yourself. That it's your time now. Make them see you." While these words are powerful for graduates on the precipice of new beginnings, they are equally helpful for people of all ages.
Camila Mendes' advice is to be done with dieting
Camila Mendes shot to fame as one of the stars of "Riverdale" when the show premiered in 2017. Since then, she's acted in other projects, grown a massive following on social media, and has used her platform to advocate for issues she cares about. One of those topics is body image, and Mendes has been open about her previous eating disorder. She has also called out Cosmopolitan Philippines (via Insider) for photoshopping her body.
After everything she's overcome regarding self love, Mendes had some advice for her fans who may struggle with similar issues. In 2018, she took to Instagram and wrote, in part, "I'm done believing in the idea that there's a thinner, happier version of me on the other side of all the tireless effort."
Mendes continued on and explained why she's done dieting for good and why others should be, too. She wrote, "Your body type is subject to genetics, and while eating nutrient-dense foods and exercising regularly will make you healthier, it will not necessarily make you thinner, and the current system fails to make that distinction. I'm sick of the toxic narrative that the media consistently feeds us: that being thin is the ideal body type. A healthy body is the ideal body type, and that will look different for every person." Say it louder for the people in the back! This is some incredible advice.
Amy Poehler says the secret to success is not doing it alone
Amy Poehler is one of the most hilarious, successful comedic actors of all time, but she knows she didn't get there alone. Poehler has worked with other incredible actors and comedians along the way, like her partner in crime Tina Fey, her "Parks and Recreation" crew, and all of her "SNL" co-stars. Poehler credits such colleagues with her own success. She was even one of the co-founders of the improvisational-comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade. Poehler knows how important it is to collaborate with other talented people. During her speech at Harvard University's Class Day in 2011, she gave some advice to the graduates and emphasized the necessity of community.
Poehler said that in order to be successful, you need to surround yourself with others who will challenge you and lift you up. "You can't do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life. No one is here today because they did it on their own. ... You're all here today because someone gave you strength — helped you," Poehler stated.
Oprah Winfrey has advice that she says 'will save you'
Oprah Winfrey most likely comes to mind as a celebrity who gives life-changing advice. And so, it's obvious that she's given some words of wisdom on multiple occasions. During an interview with People in 2019, she spoke about moments that have molded her and offered a major lesson she's learned along the way. Winfrey shared, "I say this to people all the time: 'Nothing is waste.' There is not a moment that you can have that can't turn out to be useful later in life, and if you know that, life is like this huge, giant classroom." Many things in life really can be seen as learning experiences.
But the advice from Winfrey doesn't end there. During her commencement address at the University of Southern California in 2018, Winfrey provided the students with impactful advice. She said, "This will save you. Stop comparing yourself to other people. You're only on this planet to be you, not someone else's imitation of you. ... Your life journey is about learning to become more of who you are and fulfilling the highest, truest expression of yourself as a human being. That's why you're here." Winfrey has a way with words.
Will Smith sets lofty goals to reach success
Will Smith has starred in countless movies and TV shows that offer wisdom for the viewer's everyday life; one rather obvious example being "The Pursuit of Happyness." The actor has also freely given advice of his own, outside of any character he's played. But the roles and actions of his career show that Smith isn't scared to take risks or make moves, as Variety outlined in 2017. Films and TV shows won't always win the day, but passion and skill can go a long way.
Smith turned down commercial opportunities to craft a more somber aura than that of his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air character, instead choosing roles that he told Variety "would be the last one that people would expect me to do." After crossing over to the big screen, "he set out to prove he could make money in every genre," Variety noted. What inspired such tenacity in the talented actor?
In an interview with CBS News, Will Smith said, "Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity." He expounded upon his adage in a separate interview, citing Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers as inventors who did "unrealistic" things in their lives. "It just seems like such a ridiculous idea to me to embrace the idea that, 'It's not gonna happen, that's not real...' As soon as you say it, now you just made that real."
Ken Jeong has some advice for people trying to balance two passions in life
Ken Jeong is most well-known for his hilarious acting and comedy roles, but before he starred in movies like "The Hangover" and "Crazy Rich Asians," he was a doctor. For a while, he kept his passions for comedy and medicine separate. During an interview with NPR, Jeong said, "I never let on I was a comedian. I never acted out. It was really important to me, like, to not be Patch Adams. ... I wanted to make sure I did my job right. I was perfectly trained to be a physician. You know, it wasn't a fluke. I worked hard at it." But over time, Jeong realized that it was okay to pursue both of his passions.
In an interview with Business Insider, Jeong gave some advice to anyone struggling with having more than one passion or career path in life. He said the best advice he has for someone trying to "reconcile" what to do is "just don't ever think about the end result. Doesn't matter. There is probably a parallel universe out there where a guy like me is a physician and maybe just doing some stand-up comedy on the side. I was incredibly happy doing that, you know." Jeong instead lives life in the moment and believes in finding "happiness in the most unexpected places."
Lizzo's advice for never giving up on your dreams
Lizzo shot to A-list, mainstream fame around 2019, but her success wasn't immediate. While many people only learned about Lizzo in 2019, she had already been working hard, touring, and making music for nearly a decade. Her hit song "Truth Hurts," which went viral in 2019, actually came out in 2017, and her song "Good As Hell" came out in 2016.
Lizzo is the queen of advice when it comes to patience and perseverance. In 2019, as her career was blowing up, Lizzo tweeted, "8 years of touring, giving out free tix to my undersold shows, sleepless nights in my car, losing my dad & giving up on music, playing shows for free beer & food w/ -32$ [sic] in my bank account, constantly writing songs, hearing 'no' but always saying 'yes.' Glad I never gave up."
Some people might have gotten down on themselves throughout the journey, but Lizzo took the grind as an opportunity to become a master of her craft. She told CBS News that the "slow build" of her career helped prepare her for where she is now. Lizzo said, "I've done so many tours, but nobody knows who I am until this year. But would I have been able to maintain this type of mainstream success 10 years ago? H*** to the nah!" The star added, "I needed this 10 years. I feel like a master." That's an attitude that we could all learn from!
Robert Downey Jr. shows that you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help
Robert Downey Jr. found fame as an actor in the 1980s, but as longtime fans know, his career and life have had their ups and downs. Downey was arrested on multiple occasions for charges related to drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. And since then, Downey has been open about his struggles with substance abuse, addiction, and mental health over the years. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2014, Downey gave some advice to others facing similar struggles. He said, "Job one is get out of that cave. A lot of people do get out but don't change. So the thing is to get out and recognize the significance of that aggressive denial of your fate, come through the crucible forged into a stronger metal. Or whatever."
Downey isn't afraid to accept help, either. During an interview on David Letterman's Netflix show, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," Downey heavily credits his wife Susan for helping him get back on track (via the Hindustan Times). And in 2010, Downey discussed his work with the Herald and admitted, "The old saying is true — behind every good man there's an incredible woman. I owe a huge amount — if not all — of my success to Susan. We make a great team."
Russell Wilson's advice on keeping your marriage strong
NFL star Russell Wilson has been with Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara since 2015. They have two children together and co-parent one child from Ciara's previous relationship. While Ciara and Wilson both have extremely busy careers and balance parenting with their work, they still manage to keep their marriage strong. They are always posting on social media to celebrate anniversaries and special milestones, so what's the secret to their relationship? Wilson shared some advice with Entertainment Tonight about how to keep a marriage strong.
He told the outlet, "You got to keep it sexy, you got to keep it romantic, you got to constantly put each other first, and we have our date nights every Friday. We try to do our thing and have our one-on-one time and make sure that we spend that quality time doing something fun together. That's one key thing." Wilson also said "communication is key," and "always talking with" his partner is crucial as they ensure that their "souls are well."
Ali Wong says sometimes you need to leave the nest to find success
At one time or another, we all hit that point when we have to move away from home. Whether that's for the first time or for the second or third time after moving back in with your family, it's never easy to leave the nest. But at some point, we all have to leave the home-cooked meals and free rent behind to fend for ourselves, and comedian Ali Wong has some great advice when it comes to moving out. In her 2019 book "Dear Girls," Wong stresses the importance of striking out on one's own.
Wong wrote, "At some point you gotta go. Mama loves you but it's important to get out of your hometown and get the f*** away from your family...When I got away from them, I finally felt like I could be the person I was meant to be." Wong celebrates "leaving the nest and seeing the world" in personal milestones like heading to college, "studying abroad," and living the New York dream to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.
Jameela Jamil has some advice about who to follow on social media
If you follow actor and activist Jameela Jamil on social media, you know that she has been outspoken about celebs like the Kardashians promoting unhealthy appetite suppressants and meal replacements on social media platforms. Jamil has dedicated her platforms to "radical inclusivity" and body acceptance, rather than promoting diet culture. She's also been open about her own challenges with body dismorphia and an eating disorder, and she has some advice for others when it comes to who they follow on social media and how they consume content.
In a 2021 interview with InStyle, Jamil said, "Be very careful about who you follow online, what magazines you back and where you spend your money. Considering how much time I spend on my phone, deleting a lot of those people and things have revolutionized my life. I never get off the internet feeling bad about myself anymore. Instead, I always feel like I've learned something. I follow educators, artists, writers, amazing makeup artists." This advice, to "learn when [we] go online" and turn off harmful voices, is good for everyone who uses social media.