Jay Shetty & & Cardi B ON Overcoming Depression

Have you ever wondered if a global superstar known for her bold, outspoken persona can have a deeply spiritual, quiet, and hyper-planning side to her personality?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty sat down with global superstar Cardi B, a Grammy-winning rapper and cultural force known for her honesty, sharp criticism, and unfiltered personality. She opened up about her past, difficulties on her way to fame, and her philosophy of motherhood, spirituality, and finding peace even in the spotlight.

Cardi B's Formative Years

Cardi B didn't come from a wealthy background; she often lacked amenities like consistent cable TV or video games, which forced her to read instead. She told Jay Shetty that, when she was bored, she could read an entire school history book from front to back in a week. Now, she still enjoys learning about facts and can easily go down a rabbit hole when a subject interests her; she would then spend endless hours watching YouTube videos about that topic.

As a child, Cardi B was a dreamer; she would often sit alone with her thoughts. She told Jay Shetty that her sister felt bad seeing her sitting by herself with her head down in the cafeteria, because she thought she was lonely. Yet, on the contrary, Cardi B preferred to be alone; she explained that, while she does have friends, she doesn't often like to be around people.

Clear Direction Since Childhood

Ever since she was little, Cardi B had an inner universe in her mind; it seemed to her like a hundred people were talking in her head. She had always been planning things out in her mind, just as she would when playing with dolls. To her, it's incredible that she achieved the things she had planned when she was only five.

Cardi B has always known that she would become a superstar; her grandmother often told her that and urged her to practice singing. Additionally, her teachers and friends also saw something in her and told her that she would become somebody someday.

However, the actual path wasn't always clear, and she didn't know how she would eventually become the big star everyone told her she would be. Cardi B told Jay Shetty that she enjoyed acting and singing in school, but didn't feel good at either. She was confused and allowed divine inspiration guide her way.

Refusing to Raise Children in the Hood

While the public knows Cardi B as outspoken and bold, she also has a quiet side, often sinking deeply into her thoughts. She told Jay Shetty that she could talk to her friends on the phone for hours but sometimes prefers not to see them in person. Luckily, her friends who know her well understand this. She has never been a party person and chose to focus on her work and the bigger picture rather than indulging in momentary pleasures. And one of her greatest goals was to become a mother.

Cardi B told Jay Shetty that she was always determined to give her children the life she never had and raise them in a different environment. She explained that even the children with the best parents can be negatively impacted by their peers, and she would not want that for her family.

Moreover, children grow up faster in the hood, Cardi B noted. She witnessed children going down dangerous paths already at 11, which wouldn't happen to kids shielded from the harsh realities of the hood. Cardi B admitted that her wit evolved as a protection mechanism in an environment that wasn't always safe. So, she promised herself that she would never raise her family in a similar place.

Don't Depend on Anyone

Cardi B remembers how her mother, who always had a response for people being rude to her, sat like a lamb in front of a rude social worker, because she needed welfare. Cardi B witnessed that moment and felt terrible for her mother; she vowed to herself to improve the family's situation.

So, from the early years, Cardi B understood that self-sufficiency is critical. She told Jay Shetty that women who partner with a wealthy man should still have their own money, because if something happens to him, the children will rely solely on her. She emphasized the importance of having your own means to sustain a family before creating one. For this reason, Cardi B chose to become a mother only after she felt financially secure.

Success Isn't a Guarantee

Cardi B admitted to Jay Shetty that every time she felt safe, she really wasn't. She has had different instances that showed her how flimsy success can be, so she is always on her toes, trying to become better and maintain her success.

She first felt somewhat safe when Bodak Yellow came out, and she earned her first million that she didn't have to share with managers. Yet she knows that maintaining the level of excellence is hard work, even though it may look easy from the outside. Cardi B emphasized that staying relevant is a true challenge and that artists need to constantly reinvent themselves. Then, there's the aspect of mental health, especially when there are some people who don't believe she has earned her success.

Mental Health Struggles

Cardi B told Jay Shetty that she hasn't released another album recently because she focused on being a mom. While she was still working hard after having her first child, she fell into a deep depression last year, which impaired her activity. She couldn't function, eat, or sleep, and so everything had to be put on pause.

This low period was a combination of career pressure and marital difficulties. She felt lonely because she tried to stop the relationship; she struggled for months, crying every day, until she finally felt like things were taking a turn for the better.

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To recover from the valley of depression, Cardi B worked with a therapist she saw over Zoom, but soon felt like sharing her deepest thoughts with a stranger wasn't for her. She told Jay Shetty that, while she tried multiple recovery strategies, she had to let things die on their own, because, in her view, time heals all wounds.

Staying Strong in the Face of Criticism

Cardi B is far from being a lazy person. On the contrary, she strives for perfection in everything she does, whether pole dancing, music, or as a businesswoman. She told Jay Shetty that perfectionism can make rejection feel very bitter. Because of this, she avoided releasing music for a long time, just to keep her peace of mind.

On her way to success, Cardi B fought hard to be taken seriously as an artist. When labels refused to sign her, she would use her own money to organize small concerts where people sang along to her songs, and use them as proof that she had an audience and should be given a shot. Cardi B feels furious when people assume she didn't work for her success, because she alone knows the lengths to which she had to go to be even acknowledged in this industry.

Recently, after receiving criticism for one of her songs, Cardi B was in tears. She was contemplating quitting, just for her peace of mind, but then she remembered that it would mean giving up everything God had blessed her with. She told Jay Shetty that the devil often sends evil through human form, but she stayed strong and didn't let him win and take it all away from her.

Securing a Bright Future for Her Children

Now that she is a mother, Cardi B is trying her best to give her children a proper childhood. She told Jay Shetty that she doesn't believe material things are enough; she wants to instill in them a fierce work ethic so they can manage on their own in the world later on. She wants them to be their own person and achieve something they can be proud of.

Cardi B is a tough mother. She fears laziness, so she has a strict after-school schedule for her children. Four times a week, they have mandatory tutoring in subjects like reading and math, and then piano or gym lessons. She explained that her goal was for them to become 100 times better than she was. She is also not afraid to punish lack of discipline, so her children learn accountability and stay the course.

To Cardi B, happiness comes from her children, romance, cracking jokes with the family, and seeing the progress of her work. Moreover, she has a deep connection with the divinity. She prays every day and talks to God like an old friend, who has also given her angels to care for her. Shen believes the imaginary friends or the voice in her head has always been God himself, guiding her.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “CARDI B: Overcoming Depression, Blocking Out the Hate & Owning Your Power” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.