PositLive Music: “Try”
“Try” Written by: Colbie Caillat, Babyface, and Jason Reeves Released: June 9, 2014 This song was inspired by the pressures singer-songwriter, Colbie Caillat’s, faced in the music industry to be someone else (Source). It’s about not stripping away your identity to be someone you’re not in order to please others. In Caillat’s words, “[‘Try’] is about how us women feel like we need to change ourselves in so many different ways for people to accept us and like us” (Source). However, the core message is something anyone can relate to. We all sometimes feel like we need to change ourselves in different ways for people to like and accept us. And the…
“Just when you feel you have no time to relax, know that this is the moment you most need to make time to relax.”
Sometimes, we have so much going on that it feels like we have no time at all to relax. This quote, from the book Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig, is about what we should do in those moments we don’t seem to have time to relax. It’s at those very moments we should, by all means, make time to relax. Because if we have no time to rest, it means we haven’t been getting much of it. Therefore, that is when we need it most. It’s usually when we feel like we have no time to relax that our energy is most depleted.
PositLive Music: “Better Days”
“Better Days” Written by: Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, and John Nathaniel Released: March 25, 2020 The writers of this song, including lead singer Ryan Tedder, were inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic (Source). The promise of “better days” is in the context of a global pandemic. However, the lyrics to the song can be applied to any situation in which we might feel helpless. This song is about having hope that better days will come whenever we’re faced with such situations. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist to view all playlist songs as they’re being added.Select Exploring New Ways to PositLive to read about the inspiration for PositLive Music. “Better Days” Sung…
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“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.
“The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.”
“When you connect to the silence within you, that is when you can make sense of the disturbance going on around you.”
When there’s chaos and stress around us, it’s only natural that we begin to internalize it. In a way, the stressors enter our bloodstream, affecting our mental and physical health. But what if we can create an impenetrable barrier between the stresses around us and our inner selves? What if we can tap into an inner sense of peace that can ride any storm? That’s what this quote, by Stephen Richards, is about–Finding inner peace. Moreover, when we can find and hold on to our inner peace, the chaos around us begins to make more sense.
PositLive Music: “It’s All Right”
“It’s All Right” Written by: Curtis Mayfield Released: October 1963 This song is a declaration that “it’s all right.” It was originally recorded by The Impressions with singer-songwriter, Curtis Mayfield, as lead singer. Mayfield would always write songs inspired by things he’d hear people say. “It’s all right” was said by fellow band member, Fred Cash, while performing in Nashville as they discussed the future of their group (Source). “It’s All Right” Cover sung by Jon Batiste & Celeste It’s All Right: Lyrics from “Soul” Cover Say it’s all right.Say it’s all right.It’s all right, have a good time‘Cause it’s all right, whoa, it’s all right. Now listen to the…
“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure.”
“Let there be room for not knowing.” This quote, by Pema Chödrön, is about finding comfort in not knowing. This sounds like a contradicting response to uncertainty. The typical and most natural response is anxiety and discomfort. However, not knowing can actually be the thing that takes away our sense of anxiety and discomfort. As this quote states, not knowing means we don’t know the end of the story; And what a beautiful thing that is. So when there’s a big disappointment, we don’t really know if it’s the beginning of something good. Therefore, we can replace our anxiety and discomfort in not knowing with a feeling of hope.
PositLive Music: “Put Your Records On”
“Put Your Records On” Written by: Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck, and Steve Chrisanthou Released: February 20, 2006 First and foremost, this song is about marching to the beat of your own drum. It’s about not worrying so much about what people think and putting your worries aside. Furthermore, it’s about taking chances and having faith that things will work out in the end. In the song, Corinne Bailey Rae is singing to her younger self. She’s encouraging her younger self to fully embrace who she is (Source). Therefore, the lyrics read “Girl, put your records on.” However, the general message can be given to anyone. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical…
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“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”
“Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.”
“It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power.”
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
This quote is from the book, Meditations, by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Meditations contains a series of notes and ideas by Aurelius to himself–a kind of personal journal. There is evidence to believe Aurelius suffered from chronic pain and poor appetite (symptoms of a possible ulcer). It was so bad that many were concerned for his health. Knowing this context, we might have more appreciation for his words about waking up each morning with gratitude for simply being alive with the ability to think, enjoy, and love. It’s not always easy to do so, especially when we’re suffering from pain–be it physical or emotional. But perhaps, with gratitude, the…
PositLive Music: “The Climb”
“The Climb” Written by: Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe Released: March 5, 2009 This song is about overcoming the obstacles we face in life. The songwriters experienced their own obstacles in the music business. So they wrote this song about their experience (Source)–acknowledging that life is not a race but a journey–a climb. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist to view all playlist songs as they’re being added.Select Exploring New Ways to PositLive to read about the inspiration for PositLive Music. “The Climb”: Cover sung by Point of Grace The Climb: Original Lyrics I can almost see it.That dream I’m dreaming, butThere’s a voice inside my head sayingYou’ll never reach it.…
Exploring New Ways to PositLive
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the first blog post on this site. Since then, there have been full-length articles, poetry, and–more recently– short commentaries on insightful quotes. That means all of the content has been literary. But I realize it’s time to begin expanding the content on this site beyond words on a screen. Articles, poetry, and commentaries will continue. However, in addition to these, there’s something else that can help support our efforts to live life positively. It’s missing here. Yet, it’s VERY present in my personal life. That thing is music. I’m excited to announce a new category called PositLive Music, along with the newly created PositLive…
