Emotions are so powerful. The emotions you make people feel are what they’ll remember about you. Not what you said or what you did.
Since they’re so powerful, it would be wise to use emotion to further our lives.
Music is literally written to induce emotion. If you can connect with the music or the lyrics of a song, it can be very meaningful to you and perhaps become a part of you in some ways.
All these songs have positive messages that speak some truth about how to live a more fulfilling life. They’re some of my favorites and I listen to them often to help keep my mindset pointed in the right direction. Emotionally connecting with these songs is easy: I like the music and I like the message. Connecting with the song strengthens my connection to the message and thus strengthens my drive for my goals in life.
You may like these songs, you may not. Either way, I strongly suggest music as a tool in your toolbelt for keeping your mind on the right track to get you where you want to go.
How Far I’ll Go – Moana
“One day I’ll know, if I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go”
Who’s life are you using as a model for your own? How much, and for how long, did they grow? Are you holding yourself back by (perhaps subconsciously) limiting yourself to the same level of growth as them? How far could YOU go if you let yourself?
Alligator Sky – Owl City
“I’ma dance like I never dance / Sing like I never sing, dreamed like I never dreamed / Or tried to, ’cause we’ve been lied to / That the sun is somethin’ that we can’t fly to”
Many people in life influence us as we grow older. Unfortunately the number of people who say “you can’t” outweigh those who say “you can”. Stop listening to the ones who say “you can’t”.
Could Have Been Me – The Struts
“Never look back and say / Could have been me”
Do you know the number one regret of people on their death bed? “I wish I had lived a life true to myself, and not what other people expected of me.” Do what you want so you can look back on your life knowing you lived it how YOU wanted.
Son of Man – Phil Collins
“On this journey that you’re making / There’ll be answers that you’ll seek / And it’s you who’ll climb the mountain / It’s you who’ll reach the peak”
We all know life is a journey. Treat it like one. Asking ambitious questions, seek answers to those questions, and you’ll keep getting closer and closer to what you want from life.
Push – Pepper
“Till you open up your options just by losin’ that map”
Many people “go with the flow.” And they stay in the same flow for years and years then wonder where their life has gone. Much of the excitement of life comes from bringing new things into it. The best way to bring new things in is to go get them. To go get them, you’ll probably have to leave the flow 😉
Limitless – Amaranthe
“We can be just who we are / Doesn’t matter if the road, the road is far / Nobody can break our ways to success / We’re forever limit, limitless”
Our whole lives we’re raised in a hierarchy structure. School has grades. Work an org chart. Please don’t think your potential is limited to how others may define it.
Dangerous – Within Temptation
“It’s dangerous, it’s what you like / It’s what you’ll die for to live this life”
The word “dangerous” has a bad connotation. It’s also very closely tied to the words “risk taking.” I believe most people have something they’d LOVE to do that feels too risky, so they don’t do it. Most things we think are risky aren’t as risky as we think they are. Plus, they can make you feel alive.
Diamond Eyes – Shinedown
“You’ll never be great without taking a chance”
This was one of the first songs that motivated me to make a change. “You’ll never be great without taking a chance”. When I was deciding whether or not I wanted to leave Silicon Valley to travel the world, this song made me realize I wanted to take a chance. I wanted to strive to be great.
Disguise – Dirty Heads
“When life is boring / Write your own story”
One day I asked my dad why he and my mom sat on opposite sides of a long table for dinner. “Because this is what one does,” he answered. Personally, I don’t want to live that way. You might come to find the way other people live their lives isn’t the way you see yourself living. You might come to find the way other people live their lives is boring to you.
Not Afraid – Eminem
“I’mma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly / And all those who look down on me, I’m tearin’ down your balcony”
People question others who do things differently. If you know what you want, and that what you’re doing is the right thing for you, don’t let anyone stop you. Have no doubts and get after it.
When Legends Rise – Godsmack
“Taking time, just one step forward / Won’t lose my mind, I’m here to stay / It’s burning down, it’s burning high / When ashes fall the legends rise”
Taking step after step after step is what gets you anywhere you want to go. Understand that it will take time. The years of your life are going to pass no matter what. If you spend one to achieve something that will benefit you the rest of your life, it’s worth it.
Sky Is The Limit – Rebelution
“No time for the wicked / If you’re in my line, I’ma go around the side, and still bring it / Sky is the limit”
Tech companies have attackers. Celebrities have haters. Every argument has a counter argument. Neither side is right or wrong. Give the haters no mind and keep doing your thing. When you let nothing stop you, the sky is the limit.
Brilliant – Shinedown
“Let me clear my throat, let me catch my breath / Let my heart bleed out till there’s nothing left / It’s my day to be brilliant”
“Be brilliant in what way?” Be brilliant in the way towards your goal. Give it all you got. Then take a moment to take a breath, remember why you’re doing what you’re doing, then give it all you got some more.
The Invite – Pepper
“Take action, make it happen / What are you waiting for / Too much talking, too much knocking / Just kick down the door”
Have you ever heard that it’s better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission? Our whole lives we’re taught to ask for permission. This can lead to living a life of not doing anything until someone else tells you its okay. Is that how you want to live?? I didn’t think so.
It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
“Like Frankie said I did it my way / I just want to live while I’m alive / It’s my life”
Are you noticing a pattern with these quotes? In life, do your thing. Once you know what your thing is, and once you realize your only limitation is your time on this earth, you won’t want to do anyone else’s thing but your own.
Drop a comment below or shoot me an email to let me know what you think, or what songs you would add to your own playlist.
