I Started Saying No: Curating Your Own Perspective and Emotional Intelligence in Art

“It is your right to choose what you do and what you don’t do. It is your right to choose what you believe in and don’t believe in. It is your right to curate your life and your own perspective.”

Lady Gaga stopped by Yale University's campus for the Emotion Revolution Summit, organized by the Born This Way Foundation in collaboration with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. The event aims to "ignite important conversations about making schools a place where all students can thrive."

In a talk given at Yale's Center for Emotional Intelligence last weekend, Lady Gaga dropped a few inspiring words on the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing, especially as it relates to her life's work. Parts 2 and 3 are available via YouTube.

“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.”

— Stephanie Germanotta aka Lady Gaga

Photography by Justin Sullivan.