Common has a message on how to foster self-love

Over the past two decades, Common has successfully parlayed his numerous talents into many areas of entertainment. He first burst onto the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s with his soulful and cerebral style of rap and R&B, eventually winning several Grammys and an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2015 (for “Glory” from Selma). He’s also shown his acting chops in films like Selma, Suicide Squad, and John Wick: Chapter 2. He’s currently the only rapper to have won a Grammy, an Oscar, and an Emmy.

In addition to his acting and musical abilities, Common is also a bestselling author of several books, including two memoirs and two young adult novels. And now, he’s written a book about self-love. Common said And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self“is my journey of working on myself” when he recently discussed the book with Jennifer Hudson, whom he is currently dating, on her daytime talk show. “This book is about a practical way for us to live the happiest, best life we can live.”

The book is made up of four sections, each focusing on a different area of self-care. “The Food” covers nutrition and Common’s reasons for deciding to practice a vegan lifestyle; “The Body” section recounts his personal fitness journey; “The Mind” is about learning to prioritize mental health; and the last section, “The Soul,” explores his journey to spiritual well-being.

“This book is really a love letter to my community, about loving and taking care of ourselves,” he explained to Hudson. “One of the best ways we can combat all the negativity, the anxiety, the depression is to actually love yourself.”

“We need mental health support in our communities,” he added. “And we need to make sure that we’re not talking about it like it’s something we shouldn’t do.”