My grandmother, an immigrant to the United States from Britain, engrained an important concept into me from a young age perhaps by leading as an example. She always told me that I could be anything or do anything if I worked hard enough at it. That conversation with her has always stuck with me and pushes me to work harder and harder each day.
This playlist is for those of you who are relentlessly striving towards your goals and dreams. The daily grind can be really taxing, so I find that listening to music can really help me out by inspiring me to keep pushing forward. All of these songs have helped to encourage me to keep going and to stay motivated. I hope that they can do the same for you!
1. “You Can’t Stop Me” by Andy Mineo
“Well, if I listen to you, and everything you put in my ear
I’ll be living like woulda, shoulda, coulda, I’ll be paralyzed by fear
Huh, ain’t that the truth, if I quit the only way I lose
I got two choices when I do this, make moves or make excuses.”
2. “Born For Greatness” by Papa Roach
“It doesn’t matter if the world has gone mad
If we just hold on, if we just hold on yeah
The sky is falling and the world has gone mad
And we sing our songs, and we just hold on yeah
So if you’re running, stop running
One life, one chance, start living
Sing it louder just to let the world know
No, we’re not nameless, we’re not faceless
We were born for greatness.”
3. “SAY LESS” by Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed
“Yeah okay, I get it man, say less
When’d you start talking and prayin’ less?
I’m not doing good, I’m a straight mess
But God doing way more with way less.”
“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 gotta
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.”
5. “Stick To Your Guns” by Sick Puppies
“Start dig to your nails into the wall in front of you
‘Cause when you climb over the top
You feel bullet proof
Can you feel it, can you feel it?
You’re coming alive
You’re coming alive.”
“They can say whatever, I’mma do whatever
No pain is forever, yup! You know this
Tougher than a lion, ain’t gon’ need to try it
I live where the sky ends, yup! You know this
Never lying, truth-teller.”
“I won’t just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can’t write my story
I’m beyond the archetype
I won’t just conform
No matter how you shake my core
‘Cause my roots, they run deep, oh.”
8. “I Believe” by DJ Khaled ft. Demi Lovato
“I can, I can, I will, I will (yeah)
I am, I am, no fear, no fear
Today, I saw a rainbow in the rain
It told me I can do anything
If I believe, I believe, I believe in me.”
9. “The Champion” by Carrie Underwood ft. Ludacris
“When they write my story
They’re gonna say that I did it for the glory
But don’t think that I did it for the fame, yeah
I did it for the love of the game, yeah
And this is my chance I’m taking
All them old records I’m breaking
All you people watching on the TV
You go ahead and put your bets on me.”
10. “Back From The Dead” by Skillet
“Light it up, light it up, now I’m burning
Feel the rush, feel the rush of adrenaline
We are young, we are strong, we will rise
‘Cause I’m back, back, back from the dead tonight
To the floor, to the floor, hit the red line
Flying high, flying high at the speed of light
Full of love, full of light, full of fight
‘Cause I’m back, back, back from the dead tonight.”
11. “Bodak Yellow (REMIX)” by AK
“Look
Everything I write is rightfully mine
I talk my shit but insightful at times
Most of the time I be boasting but nah
That’s cause everyone who hated now is toasting to my
Accomplishments, I know the routes, I pay no mind to it
Now I can’t trust no one, that’s what I’m convinced
If they fake, keep ’em out, that’s what Mama says.”
12. “Tunnel Vision (REMIX)” by AK
“Yeah, look, yeah
I’ve only ever did what’s right, that’s why a lot of people left
Shit, I’m just living out my life and know I live with no regrets
And yeah we started out slow but we clearly gon’ progress
Saying fuck the ones who doubted, cause I promise I’ll be next.”
13. “Look At Me (REMIX)” by AK
“But I’m growing up way before anybody else my age is
That’s a guarantee no comparing me
Only up is where my aim is
Tryna figure where my life is about to be
Because so far it has been amazing
But I feel it’d be 10 times better if my mind wasn’t racing.”
“I’m not afraid (I’m not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand come (come take my hand)
We’ll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just letting you know that, you’re not alone
Holla if you feel like you’ve been down the same road.”
“Charging by the minute ’cause my time is very pricey
Yeah, I be where the bosses be
Judging from my vibe you can feel it in my energy
Stacking paper steadily so I can live in luxury
Looking in the mirror I thank God for what I’m about to be
You beefing with my enemy does not make you a friend of me
Girls so weird stay clear I’m living drama free.”
16. “I Am The Fire” by Halestorm
“Am I brave enough?
Am I strong enough?
To follow the desire
That burns from within
To push away my fear
To stand where I’m afraid
I am through with this
‘Cause I am more than this
I promise to myself
Alone and no one else
My flame is rising higher.”
17. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
“Thought I couldn’t breathe without you, I’m inhaling
You thought I couldn’t see without you, perfect vision
You thought I couldn’t last without you, but I’m lastin’
You thought that I would die without you, but I’m livin’
Thought that I would fail without you, but I’m on top
Thought it would be over by now, but it won’t stop
Thought that I would self destruct, but I’m still here
Even in my years to come, I’m still gon’ be here.”
What are some of your favorite songs to listen to for motivation? I’d love to hear from you!
