Do you ever feel like you need others to approve of your choices?

When was the last time you did something just for yourself?

In this heartfelt episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty sits down with award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo for a raw and inspiring conversation. Cynthia opens up about her whirlwind year—filming back to back movies, performing at the Oscars, and pouring her soul into her deeply personal new album, I Forgive You. Even in the busiest seasons of her life, Cynthia is discovering the power of stillness—making space to rest, reset, and care for herself mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Cynthia opens up about the emotional weight she’s carried—the pain of feeling abandoned by her father and the relentless pressure to keep proving herself. She and Jay explore the exhausting chase for external approval—and how it often leads to burnout, disconnection, and a version of success that doesn’t feel like yours. Cynthia’s path has been one of unlearning—releasing fear-based patterns and learning to create from a place of wholeness. Her journey is one of deep self-reflection and healing, which shines through in her new music.

Together, Jay and Cynthia unpack what it really means to own your truth, make peace with your past, and finally feel at home in the present. Cynthia’s stories of heartbreak, transformation, and creative rebirth offer powerful insights for anyone navigating change or searching for their purpose. This episode is rich with wisdom, warmth, and a reminder that healing and growth are always possible.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Build Daily Habits That Ground You Anywhere

How to Embrace Rest Without Guilt

How to Heal from the Need for External Validation

How to Let Go of the Pressure to Overachieve

How to Share Your True Self Without Fear

How to Create from a Place of Love, Not Pain

Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, chasing your dreams, or simply learning how to slow down, know this: you are allowed to evolve, to let go, and to begin again.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

02:39 Have You Had a Moment to Take a Break?

04:34 How Do You Take Care of Yourself?

06:12 Are You Good at Slowing Down?

08:25 Why Your Body Needs to Follow Rituals

12:00 Difference Between Achieving and Overachieving

13:34 What Drives You to be an Overachiever?

16:59 Using Childhood Trauma to Transform Your Life

18:31 The Three Modes to Help You Achieve Your Goals

20:17 Missteps are the Steps We're Meant to Take

23:56 Choose to Live for Yourself First

26:16 Have You Ever Felt Like You Don’t Fit In?

29:23 Focus on Sharing Positive Energy

32:29 The Frequency Illusion

33:44 Empower People to Own Their Confidence

37:50 Teaching Kids About Confidence and Self Love

39:40 How to Show Up as Yourself

45:24 Behind the Glamourous Life of Celebrities

47:55 The Power of Music

51:00 How Do You Share Your Emotional Journey?

55:23 How Do You Live Through Heartbreak?

01:00:26 Can You Peacefully Disconnect Yourself from Someone?

01:05:16 Sometimes, It's Not About You

01:07:35 What is the Right Type of Validation to Crave?

01:14:20 The Core of Being a Good Person

01:21:13 The Experience of Abandonment Isn't Always Your Reality

01:25:10 Which Emotion is the Hardest to Face?

Episode Resources:

Cynthia Erivo | Website

Cynthia Erivo | Instagram

Cynthia Erivo | Facebook

Cynthia Erivok | TikTok

Cynthia Erivo | YouTube

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What part of your life feels off track right now?

Have you been listening more to your fear or your intuition?

Today, Jay explores what it means to lose control—and why that may be exactly where transformation begins. When plans fall apart and expectations go unmet, the mind defaults to self-blame and shame. But Jay offers a different perspective: perhaps this is not failure, but the unplanned beginning of something better.

Guided by his background in monkhood and supported by research from neuroscience and psychology, Jay introduces six transformative practices for navigating life’s plot twists with intention and grace. He explains how to distinguish between the loud voice of the inner critic and the quiet wisdom of intuition, why guilt and shame block growth, and how letting go of the illusion of control can create space for something far greater than imagined.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Quiet Your Inner Critic

How to Reframe Failure as Redirection

How to Speak to Yourself with Kindness

How to Respond to Setbacks Instead of Resisting Them

How to Stay Grounded When the Plan Falls Apart

How to Let Curiosity Lead You Forward, Not Fear

Control isn’t about perfect plans, it’s about presence. And what seems like an ending might just be the beginning of a more meaningful path.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:43 Is Life Not Going According to Plan?

02:47 Step #1: Learn to Pause Your Active Inner Critic

11:03 Step #2: Let Go of the Control Illusion

20:39 Step #3: Reframe Failure as Redirection

22:19 Step #4: Use the Tiny Wins Framework

24:28 Step #5: Expect the Plot Twists

27:23 Step #6: Let Curiosity Lead You Forward

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you usually calm down?

Have you heard about breathing for anxiety relief?

Today, Jay welcomes back world-renowned breathwork pioneer and “Iceman” Wim Hof to explore how the human body and mind are capable of far more than we believe. Together, they dive into the origins of the Wim Hof Method and how it harnesses the transformative power of breath, cold exposure, and commitment to unlock profound healing, emotional resilience, and spiritual clarity.

Wim shares the emotional story of how his mother’s invocation at his birth and the tragic loss of his wife became catalysts for his life’s mission: to help others reconnect with their inner strength and soul purpose. He explains how breathwork and cold immersion can help regulate the nervous system, reduce inflammation, conquer anxiety, and even break through grief and trauma. Jay and Wim also discuss the simplicity of the method, its scientific validation, and how surrender and intention unlock states of consciousness once thought to be out of reach.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Reduce Inflammation Naturally with Breathing Techniques

How to Strengthen Your Immune System in Just 30 Minutes

How to Calm Anxiety Through Simple Daily Breathwork

How to Access Inner Peace by Controlling Your Breath

How to Unlock Your True Potential in Just One Week

You are far more powerful than you realize. Whether you're battling anxiety, feeling stuck, or simply looking to reconnect with yourself, the tools you need are already within you—your breath, your body, and your willingness to try.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

⁠Safety Disclaimer:

Don't do the Wim Hof breathing in a swimming pool, before going underwater, beneath the shower, or piloting any vehicle. Always practice sitting or lying down in a safe environment. Tinnitus symptoms may appear as a result of pushing too forcefully during the breathing exercise. If this happens, take a step back in your future practice – it's important to increase gradually, not forcefully!

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:41 Dedicating a Life to Wellness

05:04 The Benefits of the Wim Hof Method Explained

11:31 Unlocking the Untapped Power of Breath

13:45 Gaining Full Control Over Your Mind and Body

17:59 Cleansing the Body Through Proper Breathing

22:24 The Science-Backed Truth About Anxiety

24:11 Can Breathing Right Strengthen Immunity?

25:54 How Discomfort Training Builds Stress Resilience

28:22 Training the Body to Embrace Cold Plunges

31:37 The Origin Story of the Wim Hof Method

33:43 Finding Mental Clarity Through Cold Exposure

40:01 Simple Steps to Take Charge of Your Life

44:23 Exploring the Practice of Mantra Meditation

45:22 Defining and Strengthening Willpower

49:26 Overcoming Life’s Most Difficult Challenges

51:20 How to Self Soothe on Emotionally Tough Days

52:35 Revealing the Hidden Strength of the Body

54:21 How Ice Baths Can Benefit Society

55:49 The Role of Surrender in Facing Fear

58:22 Healing Grief Through Cold Plunge Practices

Episode Resources:

Wim Hof | Website

Wim Hof | Instagram

Wim Hof | X

Wim Hof | Facebook

Wim Hof | TikTok

Wim Hof | YouTube

The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.