One of my favorite things to do is listen to music. And one of my favorite parts of music is the lyrics. Most lyrics tell a story. I have different playlists on my iPod and on Spotify that I play depending on my mood. One of my favorites is my “Motivation” playlist. I play it sometimes when I feel particularly beaten up by life, when I feel like I’m pedaling hard and not getting anywhere, or when I don’t feel like I’m making a difference in anything I’m doing at that moment. So here are some of my favorites from that playlist and why I particularly like them:

1. Unstoppable by Sia. I’m becoming a fan of Sia’s and have ended up with several songs by her or with her. This one reminds me that being unstoppable is up to me.

I’m unstoppable
I’m a Porsche with no brakes
I’m invincible
Yeah, I win every single game
I’m so powerful
I don’t need batteries to play
I’m so confident, yeah, I’m unstoppable today

2. Roar by Katy Perry. This is truly a power ballad–a kicking ass and taking names song. Some of my favorite lyrics:

Now I’m floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero

3. Shine by Ashanti. This I heard first on a Biggest Loser episode when she showed up at the Ranch and sang it to the contestants and it really has a great message. Don’t let others dim your light!

Shine, they can’t shut out your light, no matter how hard they try
They try, but they never can win, cause they can’t stop what’s inside
They’ll try to take you, try to break you down, remember you are born to shine

4. What are You Waiting For? by Nickelback. I’ve been a Nickelback fan for a while, but hadn’t heard this song until I was driving home from a meeting about losing weight and getting healthy. It was what I needed at the moment and the message was spot on. Lyrics I love:

Everybody’s gonna make mistakes
But everybody’s got a choice to make
Everybody needs a leap of faith
When are you taking yours?

5. Try by Colbie Caillat. My granddaughter and I were listening to this song this past weekend and discussing what it means to her. Her explanation was pretty simple–you don’t need to wear makeup if you don’t want to–but I explained to her that you don’t need to change yourself to make someone like you. It took me a long time to figure this out, so hopefully she listened.

Wait a second,
Why should you care, what they think of you
When you’re all alone, by yourself
Do you like you? Do you like you?

6. Secrets by Mary Lambert. I don’t remember where I first heard this song, but it struck me the first time I heard it and even more when I listened to the lyrics. My favorite part:

They tell us from the time we’re young
To hide the things that we don’t like about ourselves
Inside ourselves
I know I’m not the only one who spent so long attempting to be someone else
Well I’m over it

7. Life is Good by Jo Dee Messina. This one warms my heart. It makes me think about all the things in my life that are good. These lyrics really hit me:

We spend so much time climbing up the ladder
And then we’re missing all the things that really matter

8. Masterpiece by Jessie J. This is truth. Even at my age, I am still working on me–my masterpiece. Lyrics that specifically speak to me:

I still fall on my face sometimes
And I can’t color inside the lines
Cause I’m perfectly incomplete
I’m still working on my masterpiece
And I, I wanna hang with the greatest
Got a way to go, but it’s worth the wait
No, you haven’t seen the best of me
I’m still working on my masterpiece

9. I Was Here by Beyonce. I actually first heard the Glee version of this song (yes I am a Gleek and miss the show!), and this is my goal. I want to leave something so people know I was here. I don’t want to just live and die and no one but my family even realizes I was here on this Earth making a difference.

I want to say I lived each day, until I die
And know that I meant something in somebody’s life
The hearts I have touched will be the proof that I leave
That I made a difference, and this world will see

I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know

10. For Good from “Wicked.” This song is my anthem to my friends and says it all:

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you…

Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good…

11. You Are More. I don’t remember where I heard this one first, but it is what I wish for all my children and grandchildren as they become adults.

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.

12. Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. I’m a big Tim McGraw fan. I have most of his albums and have seen him in concert at least twice. A lot of his songs have a great message (Live Like You Were Dying still makes me cry!), but one of his latest just has a good message.

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

13. Happy by Pharrell Williams. I just can’t listen to this song and not feel happy.

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

14. Brave by Sara Bareilles. This is probably my personal power anthem. This song reminds me how important words are and that I should say what I need to say instead of keeping it all bottled up inside.

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
And they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

15. The Breath You Take by George Strait. This one gets me every time and helps me remember to slow down and be present in my family’s life and live for the moments that take my breath away.

But life’s not the breath you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what its all about
You just might miss the point
Trying to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

Well that’s a start with part of my current “Motivation” playlist. I’ve tried to add a Spotify Motivation playlist here (so hopefully it will work!). If you haven’t heard some of the songs I mention, give them a listen. Then, let me know what song lyrics motivate you! I’d love to add them to my playlist too.