Camila Cabello talks overcoming anxiety: 'You choose who you're going to be -- force yourself to do what you're afraid of'
Camila Cabello is opening up about her struggles with anxiety.
The "Havana" singer, 22, said in a recent Instagram post that she was an "incredibly nervous and socially anxious" child.
She shared how that side of her has affected her throughout her life and career, and what she's done to step out of her shell.
"I never ever sang in front of my parents or friends and would get flustered when they would ask me to," she wrote. "I got teary eyed when people sang happy birthday to me because people looking at me actually made me overwhelmed."
Cabello said that in order to overcome this anxiety, she's had to push herself mentally.
"I feel like my whole life there’s been two Camila’s in me," she wrote. "There’s little Camila that is terrified of the unknown, is aware of all the ways everything can go wrong ... and thinks it’s safer to stay home than to play ball."
"Then there’s the other Camila," she continued. "And she knows what she wants out of life, is aware of how little time I have to let little Camila run the show while time passes by, and grabs young me by the hand and forces her out the door saying 'Let’s go. You’ll survive, and I’m not gonna miss out on this. Let’s go.'"
You choose who you’re going to be. Force yourself to do what you’re afraid of, always - and go after what you want and who you want to be, because you’re worth that.
She also wrote in another post about what she's learned through her struggle with anxiety.
"The truth is you decide who you’re going to be. Every day," she explained in the caption. "I’m not talking about talent or success. I just mean the type of person you’re going to be."
"If you haven’t been very brave, or very social, or wild, or an adventure seeker, if you describe yourself as the opposite of those things... it doesn’t mean you can’t be," she added. "The other you needs to grab little you by the hand, yank you by the hairs and tell you, 'Let’s go.'"
She said that her more reserved, anxious side hasn't completely disappeared; she just doesn't "let her boss me around as much."
The famous hit maker also detailed why she was compelled to share the message with her fanbase.
"I think sometimes we see other people do things and think 'Ah, well.. that’s just not me. I’ve never been like that.' It’s NOT TRUE."
"I went from never wanting to sing in front of my family to being addicted to performing, from being too anxious to hang out with new people to... still being a little anxious but having THE BEST time and making irreplaceable memories," she continued.
She urged her followers to push themselves to be their true selves.
"You choose who you’re going to be. Force yourself to do what you’re afraid of, always - and go after what you want and who you want to be, because you’re worth that," she wrote.
