Chris Martin recently shared the inner struggles behind the life of one of the world’s most celebrated musicians. Speaking on the AB Talks podcast, Coldplay’s frontman admitted that fame, money, and millions of fans don’t necessarily protect anyone from the darker side of life. The singer has always been vocal about his battle with depression. He also opened up about how he views love and what it takes for him to empathise with people, opening up about his upbringing in a conservative, religious family.
Chris Martin on suffering depression
“In my life, I try to listen to teachers who talk about staying calm amidst everything, because it seems like the only way to stay sane,” Chris answered when the host asked how he is really doing. “I feel amazing, and I also feel miserable. I’m anxious, happy, worried, angry, hungry, it feels like I’m feeling so many things all the time.” He added that he gravitates toward teachers who explain these emotions, yet also show how to step back, observe them, and contain them at the same time. “I am very passionate, very angry, or very depressed about many things, and I’m also very optimistic. So, how am I, honestly? The answer is: yes,” he said.
Also read: Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson break up for good; she wanted kids, he didn’t: report
Speaking of vulnerability, Chris then recalled the time he was a teenager and used to work in a supermarket. He revealed working in the alcohol and cigarettes section. “I didn’t smoke or drink, so at first, it felt like people were speaking a language I didn’t understand,” he said, before realising what he had been missing all along. Over time, he made some regulars and even started communicating with them. “People who rely on alcohol daily often have things they want to talk about. At some point, in that supermarket, the real question became: How are you, honestly? But not on the first day.” Further on, Chris said he has no idea who he is other than a white kid. “I don’t know how I got here, or how I do what I do. I don’t know how my eyes became blue, or how I was born. I’m part of this universe,” he said. “I’m a puzzled piece of this universe.” The singer also explained, “People ask me, ‘How can Chris suffer from depression? He has the love of millions, fame, money.’ But fame and money are not the answer. They are worthless in terms of peace of mind. I still see suffering around me every day, and that’s real.”
When asked what love means to him, the My Universe crooner said, “Love, to me, begins with being kind to yourself.” Without revealing much about his personal life, including his recent breakup with actor Dakota Johnson, the singer added, “Even when life throws some crazy, psychopathic trauma at you, or makes you do things you regret, it’s better to first accept yourself for who you are. Loving yourself first makes it so much easier to understand others, to let them be who they want to be.”
He explained that love isn’t about control or possession. “Love is really about giving acceptance. It’s about not making anyone suffer and doing everything you can to stop suffering, both in yourself and in others.” Chris recalled a teacher he met in America who had studied in India. The teacher told him, “When you fall in love with someone, everything changes. You see the trees differently, the birds, the rivers. But what if you could exist in that state all the time, without needing someone else to get you there?”
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For Chris, love as acceptance isn’t just about relationships, it’s about seeing the magic and beauty in everything, and feeling good about yourself. “Honestly, I don’t see many people really feeling good about themselves. But that’s the key. Self-love makes everything else possible.”
