Hit singer says he’s happier at 36 than when he was famous in his 20s because he stopped chasing unhealthy goals
Mike Posner wrote his hit song “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” on his 26th birthday about 10 years ago. The song illustrates unhealthy habits, unrealistic personal expectations, and loneliness—all things Posner says aren’t true for him now.
This week, he shared a thread on X about the lyrics he says he feels proud to admit don’t define him anymore. At 36, Posner says he’s a new man, thanks to investing in his relationships with his mother and sister, friends, and romantic partners, overcoming sadness and pain, and realizing the patterns he continued to fall into that didn’t serve him.
“I am the happiest I have ever been in my life and have sustained faith, love, and joy mindset for over a year and am not going back,” Posner shared on X.
It’s easy to give into temptations and be motivated by destructive or irrelevant things, like driving “a sports car just to prove” something to others, but as Posner highlights in his post, the key to success is doing it for yourself.
Posner’s message has been read by more than 18 million people, and many have taken to the comments to express how important his advice was for them to see. Here are a few tips to help maintain a positive mindset to achieve healthy goals, like Posner has shown.
Practice positive self-talk
Start with giving yourself positive affirmations of the work you’ve done, or acknowledging how far you’ve come, like Posner. A short time ago, he was writing sad songs. Now, he writes about the sadness he’s felt, but also how he’s overcoming it.
“It is my duty to teach others to do the same. I know sad songs, but I also know redemption songs, songs of freedom, songs of faith, and songs of devotion,” Posner shared.
As Jay Shetty—host of the world’s number one health and wellness podcast On Purpose—says, a growth mindset is about, “reframing the voice in our heads to be a cheerleader.”
“[It’s about being] someone who’s acknowledging the hard work that’s been put into place,” Shetty previously told Fortune.
Posner’s thread highlights the work he’s allowed himself to do to love himself “more than ever,” including seeking coaches and therapy, and getting sober.