Battling the dark with empowering or upbeat music

[Justmehere]

Sometimes when my thoughts get into dark places, I listen to music and make myself sing along (out loud or in my head) as a way to get myself thinking other thoughts. I’ll go for any genre or artist, it just had to be something encouraging or empowering.

“Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara is a powerful one for me. Even songs like “Be Alright” by Ariana Grande. It’s hard to sing “it’s gonna be alright” and also entertain despairing thoughts.

It’s a way to do CBT, and change my thoughts around. DBT would call this as doing “opposite action” - playing upbeat music when feeling down. It sometimes works for me.

When I lose confidence for work meetings (daily occurance), I’ve started listening to other empowering songs on the way there. “Fear is a liar” by Zach Williams is one good example.

What songs help you shift perspective?

 

[jaccat]

Alive, by Sia. I can't believe those things about me, yet when I play the song and sing along, for those few minutes, I can.

 

[barefoot]

Not quite the same as the sort of emotional shift you’re talking about JMH, but it is still about making a shift...

I play Lady Gaga’s Edge of Glory before running workshops or going to do some other kind of public speaking gig...it’s not so much helping me come out of a dark place...more about discharging nervous energy and channelling my anxiety into a more positive, empowered, confident buzz.