Inspirational Songs to Boost Your Mental Health

When I am having a hard day, I tend to turn on music and let myself “get lost” in it. Listening to music is a great way to relax and destress. Inspirational songs are especially good in this case because of the uplifting and positive lyrics presented in them. Music can lead you to have all sorts of feelings, and inspirational music is likely to motivate you. In this post, I am going to be sharing some of my favorite inspirational songs, their chorus, and explaining some of the meaning behind them.

#1 “Stronger” - Kelly Clarkson

     Almost everyone I know has heard this popular, inspirational song. The famous lyric “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” can be very inspiring when you are going through a tough time. Sometimes it is hard to believe we will ever get through a trial, but in the end your problems end up making you a stronger person.

[Chorus]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Stand a little taller

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter

Footsteps even lighter

Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger

Just me, myself, and I

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Stand a little taller

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

#2 “Survivor” - Destiny’s Child

     This song is all about not giving up. Even when times get rough, there is no use in giving up on yourself. While it encourages the listener to become a “survivor”, this song also promotes independence from people who bring you down.

[Chorus]

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not gon' give up (What?)

I'm not gon' stop (What?)

I'm gon' work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not gon' give up (What?)

I'm not gon' stop (What?)

I'm gon' work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

#3 “Fight Song” - Rachel Platten

     Just like the title suggests, “Fight Song” is all about encouraging the listener to be strong and fight for themselves no matter what. Instead of regretting not standing up for yourself, Platten is encouraging people to speak their mind instead of holding it all in.

[Chorus]

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now, I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care

If nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got

A lot of fight left in me

A lot of fight left in me

#4 “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” - Bobby Mcferrin

     This famous song is all about staying positive and having good vibes. There is no reason to waste your life worrying all the time; instead “don’t worry, be happy!”

[Chorus]

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy

#5 “We Are The Champions” - Queen

     My favorite band of all time is Queen, so of course I had to include one of their songs on this list! At the start of the song, Mercury describes all the bad things he has been through. When you reach the chorus, you see that he is still fighting and still considers himself a champion after all his trials.

[Chorus]

We are the champions, my friends

And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end

We are the champions

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions

Of the world

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Resources :

Hoi WanHoi is a mobilist who blogs about technology trends and productivity. Read full profile, & Wan, H. (2022, April 7). 32 inspirational songs that keep you motivated for life. Lifehack. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/30-inspirational-songs-that-keep-you-motivated-for-life.html

Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (what doesn't kill you). Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://genius.com/Kelly-clarkson-stronger-what-doesnt-kill-you-lyrics

Destiny's child – survivor. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://genius.com/Destinys-child-survivor-lyrics

Rachel platten – fight song. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://genius.com/Rachel-platten-fight-song-lyrics

Bobby McFerrin – don't worry, be happy. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://genius.com/Bobby-mcferrin-dont-worry-be-happy-lyrics

Queen – we are the champions. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://genius.com/Queen-we-are-the-champions-lyrics

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Kylee Roberts, Mental Health Virtual Assistant

Co-Written by Amber Madden, LPCC-S

Three Ways to Practice Self-Care

One of the most overlooked things by people today is self-care. Sometimes, people get so caught up in their life they forget to take time for themselves. One aspect of self-care is keeping tabs on your mental health. Even small acts of self-care can affect your mental health positively. Finding a form of self-care that works for you and fits your lifestyle can be challenging. In this article, I am going to explain three different kinds of self-care that work for many and that you should definitely try out!

#1 Getting a healthy amount of sleep every night

    When you do not get enough sleep, it can negatively affect your mental health. It can cause moodiness and can cause stress to your relationships. It can also cause you to have a lower attention span. However, getting enough sleep at night can reduce anxiety and health risks. If you are struggling to get enough sleep at night, try making a schedule with a set time to go to sleep and a set time to wake up. Getting a good amount of sleep can improve your mental health and your quality of life.

#2 Making time for down-time

    It can be very easy to get caught up in your life and forget about taking time to care for yourself. With school and/or a job, it can be hard to find time to really focus on yourself. It is very important to find time to rest or do things that you would enjoy. For example, take thirty minutes out of your day to read a book or sit outside in the sun. It does not have to be for an extended amount of time. Taking 15 minutes a day to shut everything off and just close your eyes and relax can bring many positive benefits for your mental health.

#3 Finding a hobby that you enjoy

    There are many hobbies that do not take a lot of time to participate in and can affect your health positively. Some people like to knit; others may read or exercise. Whatever your hobby may be, find time to participate in it. Doing something you love can help ease your mind and help you relax, which your body definitely needs.

    There are many other kinds of self-care that are not listed in this article. If none of these peak your interest, research different kinds. Your mental and physical health should not be overlooked, and self-care can be a great way to improve both!

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Resources :

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Caring for your mental health. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health#part_8445

University Health Service. Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health | University Health Service. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://uhs.umich.edu/tenthings

Miles, M. (2022, May 20). Cracking the code on how to take care of your mental health. BetterUp. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-take-care-of-mental-health?hs_amp=true

Team, B. and S. (2022, March 25). Here's what happens when you don't get enough sleep (and how much you really need a night). What Happens When You Don't Get Enough Sleep? – Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/happens-body-dont-get-enough-sleep/amp/

Kooiman-Cox, L. (2022, February 14). 8 types of self-care. Willowstone Family Services. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.willowstone.org/news/8-types-of-self-care

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Kylee Roberts, MH Virtual Assistant

Co-Written by Amber Madden, LPCC-S

If I Lived On An Island... (A Meditation for Body Acceptance)

I often work with my Bloom clients on how to recognize the root of their diet motivation. Why do they want to diet? Why do they want to change their body?

One way to help individuals move towards body acceptance is to try and target who they would be without all the noise in their life. Who would they be without the pressure of the media, society, images, Instagram, peers, friends, family, etc.?

We conduct an exercise in guided visualization  in which I instruct them to think deeply and patiently about each question and statement. This exercise is intended to help move towards body acceptance. 

The visualization starts with a simple question:

If you lived on an island alone, who would you be?

Who would you be in your body? Who would you be around food?

This island is remote and there is no one else around. There is no one to see your body. There are no mirrors.

How do you feel about your body in this moment, on this island alone?

Are you thinking about what your body looks like?

Are you fully clothed? Wearing a bathing suit? Wearing nothing? How are you most comfortable in your body, on this island alone?

On this island, you’re also tasked with surviving. This may involve building a shelter, foraging for food and escaping from predators.

In what order does your body’s appearance fall in your list of priorities for living on this island alone?

What other areas of living take precedence? Why are they more or less important than your body’s appearance, on this island alone?

How do you want to nourish your body, on this island alone? What foods would you find satisfying on the island? What foods do you think your body would naturally crave in order to sustain living on the island?

What foods might you miss because they are unavailable on the island? What foods would you be okay with never having again?

On this island alone, how important is health? Exercise? Well-being? Peace of mind? Does your style of eating change based on these priorities?

On this island, if you were able to invite one or two people to join you, who could you invite that would NOT significantly alter this state of being, in your body, on this island? Who would you welcome in which you would feel it is unnecessary to change anything?

As you’re preparing to leave the island, think about what part of this experience you want to take back with you. How will you incorporate this into your everyday life? 

I would love to hear your reactions and thoughts to this exercise. Feel free to answer any of the questions above in the comments below!

If this exercise really resonated with you, then I invite you to take a look at my online, course on body image, Break the Mold: Building Body Positivity, where we dive even deeper into the complexity of body image and food relationships.

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