Scrolling through social media, you might encounter an endless stream of posts promising the perfect recipe for mental wellness. A precise morning routine, a specific green smoothie, a particular meditation app — each one claims to be the key. Actor and singer Gracie Lawrence understands this pressure firsthand. On May 18, she took the stage at the third annual Women’s Health Lab in New York City, an event hosted by Hearst Magazines in partnership with Northwell’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health. Joined by Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Willa Bennett, Lawrence offered a refreshingly honest counterpoint to the polished wellness advice that floods our feeds.
Gracie Lawrence’s Women’s Health Message: Five Ways She Redefined Self-Care at the Lab
Instead of delivering another checklist of habits to adopt, Lawrence shared personal stories and industry insights that cut through the noise. She addressed the tension between authenticity and the marketable version of happiness. Her conversation with Bennett became a masterclass in why mental health looks different for everyone. Below are five distinct ways she contributed to the event, each offering lessons readers can apply to their own lives.
1. Debunking the Nine-Step Morning Routine as a Mental Health Myth
Lawrence directly challenged the idea that a complicated skincare regimen or an elaborate morning ritual equals emotional stability. “I think a lot of girls go through the world trying to find this perfect recipe of how to be,” she said during the discussion. “They have a nine-step morning skincare routine and think that’s what mental health is when, in actuality, there are a lot of different versions of it.”
This observation hits a nerve for anyone who has ever felt inadequate after failing to maintain an influencer-approved routine. The underlying problem is that many wellness products and practices are marketed as one-size-fits-all solutions. In reality, what works for one person might cause stress for another. The nine-step ritual becomes yet another task to complete, rather than a genuine act of care. Lawrence’s point was simple: equating external discipline with internal peace is a trap.
For readers who feel overwhelmed, the actionable takeaway is to strip self-care down to its core. Ask yourself: what actually makes me feel regulated, not just productive? If a single cup of tea and five minutes of silence feels better than a twenty-step routine, that is valid. Mental health does not require a branded regimen.
2. Elevating Self-Critical Songs as Vital as Self-Love Anthems
As a musician who performs with her brother in the band Lawrence, she brought a unique perspective on the music industry’s preferences. “The music industry tends to reward these big messages of self-love, these songs that are just about loving yourself, with no difficulty,” she explained. “I’m really interested in why songs that, for lack of a better term, where you shit on yourself can be hard [to sell]. I think those are important and I think there’s space for that.”
This insight reveals a deeper cultural bias: we prefer tidy, triumphant narratives over messy, honest ones. A song about struggling with self-doubt or feeling inadequate might feel less marketable because it does not offer a quick fix. Yet these tracks often resonate more deeply because they mirror real human experience. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Popular Music Studies, listeners report stronger emotional connections to songs that express vulnerability compared to those that project uncomplicated confidence. Lawrence’s advocacy for these “harder” songs validates the value of art that sits with discomfort.
For creative professionals, the lesson is clear: do not suppress the complicated parts of your story to fit a marketable mold. Audiences are hungry for authenticity, even if the industry initially resists. Share your uncertainties. They build genuine connection.
3. Citing Carole King as a Model for Embracing Female Complexity
Lawrence pointed to Carole King as a songwriter who captures the full spectrum of womanhood. “It’s all about the conflict of being a woman. She didn’t feel beautiful, but she found so much confidence in her creativity, which I find really inspiring.” By naming King, Lawrence rooted her argument in a historical figure who broke ground by being honest about her insecurities.
This reference matters because it shows that the tension between self-doubt and self-worth is not a modern invention. King’s ability to transform vulnerability into enduring art demonstrates that professional success and personal uncertainty can coexist. The “conflict of being a woman” that King explored decades ago remains relevant today. Social media often presents polished, one-dimensional images of femininity. Lawrence used King as proof that depth and contradiction are not weaknesses — they are sources of strength and connection.
Readers can apply this by seeking role models who embrace their contradictions rather than hiding them. Whether in music, literature, or everyday life, complexity is a sign of depth, not failure.
4. Sharing Unconventional Self-Care: Writing Songs at 2 AM
Lawrence rejected the notion that self-care must look a certain way. “I’ve never been that girl,” she said about people who wake up early and go for a run. “I’ve been a really creative person my whole life. I’ve written songs at 2:00 in the morning that have cured me.”
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This statement challenges the wellness industry’s preference for morning routines and physical activity as the gold standard of health. For some, the peak of emotional regulation happens late at night when the world is quiet and creative flow is unimpeded. Lawrence normalised finding healing in artistic expression rather than in identical habits.
If you feel pressured to adopt a “healthy” schedule that does not fit your natural rhythms, consider what unique practices actually restore your energy. Perhaps it is journaling at midnight, painting on a Sunday afternoon, or having a deep conversation over dinner. The key is to uncouple self-care from a rigid blueprint and reconnect with what genuinely soothes you.
5. Normalizing the Reality of Not Feeling Great Every Day
Perhaps the most powerful message Lawrence delivered was about acceptance. “So many people wake up every day not feeling good about themselves, and that doesn’t mean they’re unwell or they’re not going to be successful,” she said. “It’s important to normalize not feeling awesome about yourself every second of the day.”
This idea directly counters the relentless positivity that dominates social media. When every post seems to radiate joy and confidence, a single bad day can feel like a personal failure. Lawrence reminded the audience that fluctuation is human. She even joked about her own imperfection: “I shaved my legs in the sink this morning.” The laughter in the room underscored how rare and refreshing it is to hear a public figure admit to not having it all together.
For anyone struggling with the pressure to feel happy constantly, the solution is to reframe your expectations. Mental wellness is not a permanent state of bliss. It is the ability to ride the waves — to feel sad, frustrated, or insecure without concluding that you are broken. Allowing yourself to not be okay is, paradoxically, a sign of health.
Beyond Gracie Lawrence: A Day of Honest Conversations
The gracie lawrence women’s health segment was just one highlight of a full day devoted to rethinking wellness. Laura Dern spoke about the challenges of being a caregiver for someone with interstitial lung disease, shedding light on the emotional toll that often goes unseen. Jessica Capshaw discussed the importance of listening to your body and recognising when burnout signals something deeper than exhaustion. Meanwhile, Keke Palmer and Gayle King explored what it means to truly own your health — taking responsibility without falling into self-blame. Each conversation reinforced the day’s central theme: there is no single path to wellbeing. The event was supported by sponsors including Lilly, Altra, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ipsen, L’Oréal Paris, Organic Valley, and WaterWipes, indicating broad interest in shifting the conversation around women’s health.
Lawrence closed her portion with a phrase that lingered: “There are a million ways to do it.” That line is a liberating antidote to the algorithm’s narrow prescriptions. Whether you find solace in a 2 AM song-writing session, a brief walk, or simply giving yourself permission to feel low, your version of health is valid. The Women’s Health Lab reminded its audience that true wellbeing is not about perfection — it is about permission to be exactly who you are.
