Have you ever felt like losing meant your life was over?

When did you realize it’s okay to fail?

Today, Jay sits down with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to explore her journey beyond the tennis court. Naomi, known for her powerful game and quiet resilience, opens up about the challenges of fame, the weight of expectations, and how motherhood has reshaped her outlook on life.

Jay and Naomi discuss the pressure of being a high-performance athlete, the loneliness that can accompany success, and the struggles of maintaining a sense of self in an industry that often reduces people to their achievements. Naomi candidly describes how, for years, her self-worth was tied to her ranking and performance, but becoming a mother has given her a new perspective—one that prioritizes joy, presence, and growth over perfection.

The conversation also dives into Naomi’s evolving relationship with competition. While she once measured her success by titles and trophies, she now finds fulfillment in self-discovery and personal progress.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Detach Your Self-Worth from Achievements

How to Cope with External Expectations and Criticism

How to Use Journaling for Self-Reflection and Growth

How to Prioritize Mental Health in High-Pressure Situations

How to Learn from Setbacks Without Letting Them Define You

Success is not just about winning; it’s about growing, learning, and showing up for yourself every day.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:47 Open Discussions About Mental Health

03:10 Impulsiveness as an Athlete

05:28 Moving From Japan to USA

08:02 Lifelong Training and Career

10:13 Incorporating Culture in Fashion

12:38 Discipline and Diet

13:53 Indulging in Guilty Pleasures

16:48 Passing Time While Having Impulsive Tendencies

18:46 Winning the First Grand Slam 

21:09 Dealing with Public Hate

22:39 A Long-Time Serena Williams Fan

25:16 Experiencing Motherhood 

27:39 The Different Facets of Life

29:07 The Power of Journaling

31:55 Loving the Life You're Living

34:57 The Habit of Comparing Yourself to Others

36:27 Stop Chasing Your Old Self

38:21 Motherhood Realizations

39:46 Rigorous Training After Giving Birth

41:18 Setting Boundaries During PressCon

43:01 No One Can Predict Someone's Path

45:21 Finding Calmness Through Meditation

47:44 Setting New Goals

50:25 Shamed for Taking a Break

54:17 Getting Support from Fellow Athletes

55:52 Friendships and Camaraderie

57:08 Mentored by Kobe Bryant

59:31 The Haitian Way of Giving

01:00:58 Who Are You Spending Your Time With the Most?

01:04:29 Loving Yourself and How You Look

01:05:29 Game Day Routine

01:07:33 You're Never Alone

01:09:04 Fear of Being Forgotten

01:12:40 Naomi on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Naomi Osaka | Instagram

Have you ever felt like losing meant your life was over?
When did you realize it&rsquo;s okay to fail?
Today, Jay sits down with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to explore her journey beyond the tennis court. Naomi, known for her powerful game and quiet resilience, opens up about the challenges of fame, the weight of expectations, and how motherhood has reshaped her outlook on life.
Jay and Naomi discuss the pressure of being a high-performance athlete, the loneliness that can accompany success, and the struggles of maintaining a sense of self in an industry that often reduces people to their achievements. Naomi candidly describes how, for years, her self-worth was tied to her ranking and performance, but becoming a mother has given her a new perspective&mdash;one that prioritizes joy, presence, and growth over perfection.
The conversation also dives into Naomi&rsquo;s evolving relationship with competition. While she once measured her success by titles and trophies, she now finds fulfillment in self-discovery and personal progress.
In this interview, you'll learn:
How to Detach Your Self-Worth from Achievements
How to Cope with External Expectations and Criticism
How to Use Journaling for Self-Reflection and Growth
How to Prioritize Mental Health in High-Pressure Situations
How to Learn from Setbacks Without Letting Them Define You
Success is not just about winning; it&rsquo;s about growing, learning, and showing up for yourself every day.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:47 Open Discussions About Mental Health
03:10 Impulsiveness as an Athlete
05:28 Moving From Japan to USA
08:02 Lifelong Training and Career
10:13 Incorporating Culture in Fashion
12:38 Discipline and Diet
13:53 Indulging in Guilty Pleasures
16:48 Passing Time While Having Impulsive Tendencies
18:46 Winning the First Grand Slam&nbsp;
21:09 Dealing with Public Hate
22:39 A Long-Time Serena Williams Fan
25:16 Experiencing Motherhood&nbsp;
27:39 The Different Facets of Life
29:07 The Power of Journaling
31:55 Loving the Life You're Living
34:57 The Habit of Comparing Yourself to Others
36:27 Stop Chasing Your Old Self
38:21 Motherhood Realizations
39:46 Rigorous Training After Giving Birth
41:18 Setting Boundaries During PressCon
43:01 No One Can Predict Someone's Path
45:21 Finding Calmness Through Meditation
47:44 Setting New Goals
50:25 Shamed for Taking a Break
54:17 Getting Support from Fellow Athletes
55:52 Friendships and Camaraderie
57:08 Mentored by Kobe Bryant
59:31 The Haitian Way of Giving
01:00:58 Who Are You Spending Your Time With the Most?
01:04:29 Loving Yourself and How You Look
01:05:29 Game Day Routine
01:07:33 You're Never Alone
01:09:04 Fear of Being Forgotten
01:12:40 Naomi on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Naomi Osaka | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lewishowes">Instagram</a>

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

Naomi Osaka: “I Used to Think Losing Meant My Life Was Over” Sharing Her Truth of Navigating Shame, Public Pressure & How She Found REAL Self-Worth

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0cc3ddb5-5498-4f74-a3d0-b32c0058b6c5/transcript

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