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Justin Bieber Reflects on Past Mistakes: “Would I Do Anything Different?”

Justin Bieber and Elvis Duran
Justin Bieber reflected on his past mistakes and run-ins with the law in a revealing new interview with Elvis Duran

Have faith, Beliebers! Justin Bieber has had a tumultuous few years in the spotlight, but he's getting back to business with new music and a new attitude. The "Home to Mama" singer, 21, sat down recently with radio host Elvis Duran to talk about his latest song, "What Do You Mean?" — and only Us Weekly has a sneak peek of their chat, which airs Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:40 a.m. on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.

Bieber has been working hard to improve his image in recent months, as evidenced by his February apology video and his March Comedy Central Roast, where he gamely endured teasing from the likes of Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O'Neal, and Will Ferrell. Behind the scenes, he's also focused on weeding out negative influences.

Related: PHOTOS: Bieber's biggest scandals

"I just want to be around people who I feel are supporting me, uplifting me, and making sure I'm the best version of myself because there are so many people in this industry who just want to keep seeing me fall," he told Duran.

Building a good support system is easier said than done, though. "It has to be on you. You have to make the conscious effort, because for me, so many times it was good people coming in my life and tugging at me, but I wasn't ready," he explained. "They're like, 'Justin, come on.' But I wasn't ready to take that leap and be like, 'Okay, this is what I want to change, this is who I am, and this is not who I am.' It takes moments of clarity to be like, 'Oh, that's why I'm not like this. That's why I shouldn't do this.'"

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Bieber says those moments of clarity only come from experience, and from being allowed to make your own mistakes. "I mean, maybe I'm a bad influence, but for me I was like, no, I'm going to do this until I feel like I shouldn't be doing this. Maybe I was wrong, but that's how I learn, and I feel like I'm much better for it," he explained.

Looking back on his past controversies, he quipped, "Would I do anything different? I would probably stay away from Miami." (Miami is where the pop star was arrested in January 2014 for careless driving and resisting arrest.)

Joking aside, Bieber told Duran he's learned he needs to careful about where he puts his faith. "Trusting people is hard, especially for me. I've trusted people who I probably shouldn't have trusted before and they've hurt my heart," he admitted to Duran. "I'm a pretty sensitive guy, so I'll lay it all on the line, and they'll kind of pull it. So now I'm figuring out there's certain people I can't do that with."

Related: PHOTOS: Child stars gone bad

That said, he doesn't want to become someone who's suspicious of everyone he meets. "Here's what I'll tell the people: Don't let someone who ruined your trust ruin that next person's chance to gain that trust. I think I let that affect me and change the way I looked at people for a while," he shared.

"There's so many beautiful and amazing people who will encourage you, who will love you, who will not judge you. But I didn't see that because I completely put myself over here," he continued. "I still have moments where I'm like, 'Yeah people suck.' And then I'll have those moments of like, 'No, people are awesome, and this is why I do what I do in the first place.'"

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The singer — who previously dated Selena Gomez for several years — also revealed to Duran that he has a new leading lady in his life. "Yes. I am in love…Her name is Esther, she's my little puppy!" he teased. "She's adorable. She's a silky terrier. She makes me smile."

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