Most people have heard about Stephen Sutton by now. His infectious zest for achieving things in life, despite his terminal cancer diagnosis and recent passing, has helped to raise over £4million for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
If you’ve not seen his speech already, have a watch. It might just be the fifteen minutes that save your life.
I’ve got to be honest, I’ve not been feeling too positive for the past couple of weeks. Some days I feel ok, others I feel like sleeping, some I feel frustrated. My motivation and “raaaar” energy seems to have left me and I’m not sure why. Well, I am about to stride far outside of my comfort zone for a project and taking that leap of faith is draining, so maybe it’s that. I should be excited but actually I’m scared petrified of failing, which is stupid, because I know that if I don’t try, I will fail and will never succeed.
So to try to get some positivity back, I’m going to play my songs for tough times, read the positive list of things to do to try to give me back some confidence, and find some motivational quotes (which I’ll post below as I find them today). I’ll let you know if it works…
“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.”
― Wayne Gretzky
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
― Nelson Mandela
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
― Nelson Mandela
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
― Nelson Mandela
“The brave may not live forever – But the cautious do not live at all”
― Richard Branson, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School
“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”
― Richard Branson
“Courage is exhilarating.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face….You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
I’ve created many playlists over the years, but I always find myself going back to the same ones when I need a boost or times get tough.
Music has played a massive part in my recovery and it still helps me now when I fall back in to a hole and need a friendly helping hand out. I’d recommend this to everyone, not just those that suffer with mental health issues. Music can be powerful, and with the right song and the right frame of mind, it can make you unstoppable.
It doesn’t matter how low I’ve gotten over the years, I’ve always found that the words to songs (no matter how cheesy) somehow made me feel a bit better. Now, I’m not saying that any of these songs are cool, but I’m not listening out for the artist or tune. It’s all about the lyrics, what they mean for me and how they make me feel. Hopefully they’ll help to plant a seed in anyone feeling a bit low, and edge them closer to getting out of their hole too. They’re not a quick fix or a cure, but they’re definitely part of that army of tools which might just make a small difference.
Who can argue with this powerful song? The video to this is brilliant and powerful. Yes, the lead is female and it’s a cartoon, but I’ve yet to find a girl or guy that hasn’t been moved or pumped up by the end of it.
It’s funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can’t get to me at all
It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me,
I’m free!
Idina Menzel – Let It Go Lyrics | MetroLyrics
If you fancy something a little more light-hearted, then these two are always guaranteed to bring a smile.
One of my favourite songs. Has gotten me out of many a dark tunnel.
All I was searchin’ for was me.
Ooh ooh all I was searchin’ for was me.
Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
No, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep your hair long.
Oh my my darlin’ keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
No, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set in your ways, keep your heart strong.
Ben Howard – Keep Your Head Up Lyrics | MetroLyrics
One for inspiration. Get a piece of paper and a pen ready.
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it’s never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
‘Cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
‘Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
Nickelback – If Today Was Your Last Day Lyrics | MetroLyrics
This song resonates with me on so many levels. It’s actually part of a powerful technique that I’ve learnt over the years. Be prepared to think, cry, smile and write down a lot of things during this one.
Wish I knew back then,
What I know now,
Wish I could somehow,
Go back in time and maybe listen to my own advice,
I’d tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out,
Talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder,
Tell her she’s beautiful, wonderful,
Everything she doesn’t see,
You gotta speak up, you gotta shout out,
And know that right here, right now,
You can be beautiful, wonderful,
Anything you wanna be
Little Mix – Little Me Lyrics | MetroLyrics
I was driving home from work the first time I heard this song. By the time I’d got home, I was just that little bit further out of my dark pit. A very powerful song.
Follow through
Make your dreams come true
Don’t give up the fight
You will be alright
‘Cause there’s no one
Like you in the universe
Don’t be afraid
What your mind consumes
You should make a stand
Stand up for what you believe
And tonight we can truly say
Together we’re invincible
Muse – Invincible Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Never fails to make me feel a bit more upbeat. I WILL be OK.
When everything is going wrong
And things are just a little strange
It’s been so long now
You’ve forgotten how to smile
And overhead, the skies are clear
But it still seems to rain on you
And your only friends
All have better things to do
A special mention for this last one. One from the 80s (not really in the cool league), but one with lyrics about loving the greatest person there is – yourself. You’ll probably think, “What the hell is this?”, but trust me, bear with it until the end.
Everybody’s searching for a hero,
people need someone to look up to.
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs,
a lonely place to be – and so I learned to depend on me.
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadow
if I fail, if I succeed, at least I lived as I believe
no matter what they say to me, they can’t take away my dignity
Houston – The Greatest Love Of All Lyrics | MetroLyrics
My full ‘Keep Going’ playlist can be found on Spotify (you’ll need to get it if you don’t have an account – it’s free). I frequently add to my playlists as I discover new songs. If you’ve got any suggestions, please feel free to comment and I’ll add them on if I feel that they’re appropriate.
I hope that at least one of these strikes a chord and helps to bring the light at the end of the tunnel a touch closer.
Without wishing to jinx this, I’ve actually been feeling quite happy since Saturday morning. 3 days of having energy and being even slightly happy is something of a rarity, so I’m enjoying it! It’s been so long since I’ve managed to string a few days together, it feels alien, if not slightly uneasy. If you know what I mean?
Part of it has to do with helping other people. I love helping people, so any opportunity that I get to listen to other people’s problems, use my “wisdom” or to pass my opinion on something is always a bonus to me. It makes me feel wanted and that I’m important enough that someone wants me to help them. Some people find this hard to understand, as they feel like they shouldn’t be burdening me. I see it like this: someone actually values me enough to ask for my help and it takes my mind off my issues. This sense of worth goes a long way with me. Who doesn’t like being asked their opinion and giving it, right?
I’ve also found that a couple of songs have been important in the past few days. One in particular has been stuck in my head and has given me so much “Raaar” that it prompted me to write a post about my top motivational tunes. Watching the music video to it increased its power too, so I’ll share my findings shortly.
Having said that, it could just be the weather… hello sunshine!
It may seem intuitive to some and logical to others, but it’s something that we are all guilty of from time to time.
How many times have we felt good and thought, I don’t need to write anything good, or write some motivational notes – I feel a bit better, let’s do something else instead. Until that is, we fall back down into our darkness and have nothing left to remind us of the brightness that we briefly glimpsed.
It’s therefore important that we all write / record something positive when we’re feeling (even a bit) better, not only because it’ll help to lift our mood and give us some hope, but because you won’t feel like doing it when you’re feeling bad and that’s really the time that you need the most help.
Some ideas that I use include:
On the days when you’re feeling low, you will then have an army of resources ready to give you some hope, encouragement and motivation. Not all may work at the time, but one just might make that little bit of a difference.
One of the things that I return to time and time again on my quest for happiness, is music.
I’ve discovered two distinct types of music that help me out
1) Classical music
Now some of you may sneer at this, but there’s something about listening to an orchestra, or even a solitary piano (not opera, but choral is good too), that captivates and sends that shiver down your spine. I tend to listen to the up-tempo or spine-tingling music when I’m driving. The sense of being in your own space, enjoying the music has turned my mood on its head more than once. I tend to listen to more relaxed classics when I’m in the bath. I spend an hour or so with it on in the background and let my mind wander. I find that it helps me to process things that I’ve been stuck on, or am dwelling on. Plus, classical music has been found to naturally boost serotonin and help with feeling low. By the time I’ve finished my bath, I’m usually feeling more relaxed, less stressed and anxious, as well as having more of a path in my head.
2) Motivational or inspiration music (any genre)
Here I’m more concerned with the lyrics rather than the type of music. Any song that has a message that makes me sit up, take note, tingle my spine and make me feel like going “RAAAAAR” goes into my “Keep Going” Spotify playlist. I then play this playlist a little (and sometimes a lot) each day to try and get me out of my tunnel or to boost my mood even further. I feel that keeping a playlist is important, so that when you feel down, you have something immediate to hand that you can try.
I can quite honestly say that these two have more than kept me going over the past few years. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but used in combination, they can be a formidable force.
Mission: Happy Me 