Actress and musician Simone Ashley joins Jay for an intimate conversation about navigating sudden global fame, redefining self-worth beyond career expectations, and letting go of societal timelines. Simone details her breakthrough journey from lockdown uncertainties to leading Bridgerton, how her mother taught her to love her skin and embrace cultural identity, and why stepping into music with her debut EP 'Songs I Wrote In New York' allowed her to access a raw, instinctual form of creative expression. Together, Jay and Simone dive into the crucial distinction between solitude and loneliness, how envy can slowly destroy friendships, and why finding a 'co-creator' in love means choosing someone who makes life simpler rather than more complex. If you're feeling behind in life or searching for the confidence to trust your own timing, this episode offers a heartwarming reminder that your path unfolds exactly when it is meant to. With Love and Gratitude,Jay Shetty A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®️Visit: https://www.statefarm.com/ Head to https://wayfair.com right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less. On Purpose is now Netflix and Spotify exclusivehttp://www.netflix.com/onpurposewithjayshetty https://open.spotify.com/show/5EqqB52m2bsr4k1Ii7sStc  JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00:00 Intro  00:00:53 How Much Can Shift In Five Years 00:01:30 From Lockdown to Bridgerton: Career Breakthrough 00:05:16 Identity and Confidence as an Indian Actress 00:08:41 Impact of Representation and Personal Reflections 00:12:56 Assessing Past Strengths and Potential Regrets 00:13:37 Comparing School Experiences  00:14:23 Mother's Lesson on Non-Materialism  00:15:35 Defining True Friendship and Overcoming Envy 00:17:34 Women Supporting Each Other Beyond Competition 00:18:40 Loneliness vs Solitude 00:24:26 Desires, Dreams, and Simpler Life Aspirations 00:26:07 How to Manifest Love… 00:28:20 The Power of Honesty in Relationships 00:29:25 This is What Handling Rejection Looks Like  00:32:42 Your Emotional Response to Rejection is OK  00:34:08 Balancing Career Ambition with Personal Relationships 00:34:53 Evolving Partner Values As You Grow 00:36:55 Self-Belief is the Foundation for Success 00:38:02 Dream Projects and Core Personal Values 00:39:19 Creation is the Opposite of Depression  00:40:06 The Songwriting Process and Developing Her Unique Sound 00:42:36 Vulnerability in Music and Overcoming That Fear  00:43:39 Analyzing 'Freeze' and 'Tragic Romantic' Lyrics 00:46:33 The Song 'Free' and Its Emotional Significance 00:49:39 Finding the Art Form That Perfectly Aligns with Your Soul   00:52:10 Would-You-Rather Dating Game  00:56:42 Aging, Timelines, and Comparing Life Paths 01:02:41 The Most Painful Lesson She Learned From This Rejection 01:05:40 What Are Sliding-Door Moments? 01:05:26 Don’t Feel Bad For Being Desperate 01:07:10 Questioning Answers and The Biggest Pressure in Her 30’s 01:10:08 Dreaming of An Escape and What That Really Means  01:13:00 The Perspective Shift That Changed Everything  01:14:33 Simone on Final Five Episode Resources: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/simoneashley/  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@simoneashleyofficial  Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/artist/simoneashley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices