Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia recently talked with PeopleTV's Senior West Coast writer Julie Jordan about how important kindness is for both of them and how the new book Channel Kindness was inspired by their own journey from trauma to understanding. Watch the interview and an exclusive preview of their book Channel Kindness.

When Gaga was bullied and suffered from depression in middle school, she didn't feel like she had anyone to turn to.  "I didn't know how to stand up for myself without feeling embarrassed," she tells PEOPLE. She added: "When I was younger and had mental issues, my mom didn't know how to communicate with me about it"."We've found a way to channel kindness into our lives in a way that's also healed our relationship."

Gaga grew up to become a Grammy-winning pop singer, but it took years before she and Cynthia learned how to communicate openly. Now, they're hoping to help others find a light with their new book, Channel Kindness.

"These are the things that create highways from heart to heart, where we can hold compassion and empathy, where we can celebrate everybody's resilience," says Gaga, 34, about the 51 stories from young people around the world included in the book.

"[I treasure] how we've learned to be more open and honest with one another. She helped me do that," Cynthia says of her daughter. Adds Gaga: "I'm just really grateful that my mom holds space for me to be able to talk about how I feel. And because of that, we have a very healthy relationship that is beautiful."

CHANNEL KINDNESS is a collection of inspirational stories written by young people as well as personal notes of empowerment from Born This Way Foundation co-founder Lady Gaga. Within these pages, you’ll meet young changemakers who found their inner strength, prevailed in the face of bullies, started their own social movements, and decided to break through the mental health stigma. These storytellers share how they felt, created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and embraced kindness with every fiber of their being by helping others without the expectation of anything in return.

The book is authored by a diverse group of young changemakers. The authors are contributors to Born This Way Foundation’s Channel Kindness program, which seeks to uplift youth voices by providing a storytelling platform for first-person accounts of everyday acts of bravery and kindness.

Through the years, we’ve collected stories of kindness, bravery, and resilience from young people all over the world, proving that kindness truly is the universal language. And now, we invite you to read these stories and follow along as each and every young author shares their powerful story just as Lady Gaga has shared hers.

For more information about Cynthia and Gaga's inspiration behind 'Channel Kindness', pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, and pre-order a copy of the book today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Target, Indigo, Books A Million, Audible or the Spanish edition.