I was pleasantly surprised when I was binge watching David Letterman’s Netflix show and came across his interview with Lizzo.

Of course, I had heard (and loved) some of her music, but I didn’t know anything about her as a person. I was blown away by her positivity and what an amazing role model she is!  The world definitely needs more Lizzo!

She is the most self-confident, infectiously happy, positive person I have ever come across, and I finished the show vowing to work on being more like her whenever I can.  

Some of the lessons I learned:

I Love You, You Are Beautiful, You Can Do Anything

During her concerts, she has everyone repeat “I love you, you are beautiful, you can do anything”. They say it to themselves, to the person beside them and then back to her.  What a great mantra for each of us to use everyday. 

Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we all believed this both about ourselves and everyone else we meet? 

I’m Working Out to have MY Ideal Body Type

Lizzo’s perspective on her body is incredibly refreshing!  She works out, she can MOVE; as she says, “I know I’m beautiful.  I know I’m healthy.  I know I can outrun those b@#$ches!”

She talked about people calling her brave and how she does not consider that to be a compliment.  She doesn’t consider herself brave for being unapologetic about her body type; she wonders why others think she should apologize in the first place.

Wow!  I wish we all had that self-confidence!

Your Mood Changes the Mood of People Around You

She talks about her middle school band leader telling her that her dark negative mood was changing the mood of the people around her.  That is when she decided to take his advice and focus more energy on the positives in her life.  

She goes on to say that she confuses the heck out of people because she is so free.  They say that she is a one-of-a-kind, but her wish is that everyone could enjoy that freedom!

Each One of Us Can Change the World

Although she says she is “sick of being an activist just because she is fat and black”, she is nonetheless using her platform to fight inequality.  

When asked about being a black woman, she talked about how painful change can be, and how she is heartbroken by the way that people of colour have been treated throughout her life.  As a child she remembers a black man from down the street being shot by police, and she reflected on all the others who have lost their lives since then.  

But in true Lizzo fashion, she even finds some hope in the events of this past year.  What happened to George Floyd was horrific.  Her hope comes from the response of white people who finally recognized the systemic poison that exists. Hopefully, TOGETHER we can effect change.

What Would Lizzo Do?

So, one of my new guiding questions has become “what would Lizzo do?”  How can I approach this situation with self-love, positive self-talk and confidence?  I may not be able to twerk or play the flute or sing and dance like her, but how can I channel my inner Lizzo in day-to-day life?