Music is such an amazing motivator that can not only get your body moving but help lift your spirits as well.  These songs all provided me a bit of strength or helped lift me up at some point along the way.  On a rough day I would find a great song, put it on repeat until I believed its lyrics & felt like I could take on the day’s challenges ahead.

I’ll be the first to admit my taste in music can tend to be a bit cheesy, just ask my husband who is the only other person in the world I would allow to see all of my playlists, that’s some private & telling stuff right there!  I can’t believe I’m really admitting this but, one of my oldest go-to songs for a mood boost has always been Mmm Bop by Hanson (shhhh!!!).  I know, I know… But I really feel like that song either makes you want to either stick a pen in your eye, or clap your hands & do a happy dance.  For me, I want to happy dance & clap, I literally cannot be upset when I hear that song!  Fear not however, Mmm Bop did not make my list here, but I felt I should warn you in advance of my potential for musical cheese.

A lot of these lyrics will resonate directly with a cancer patient or anyone facing any rough time for that matter.  Others are more uplifting & just make you feel good, which is so important throughout treatment.  Keep in mind many double as great work out songs as well, some even originated from my treadmill playlist.

Fight Song by Rachel Platten – Ah yes the recently appointed go to fight sing, it’s become quite the anthem & there’s a reason for that.  “This is my fight song, take back my life song, prove I’m alright song”.   This song is pure cancer fighting perfection!

Rise Up by Andra Day – Talk about an anthem!  This one has it all, meaningful lyrics & moving delivery.  “I’ll rise up, high like the waves, I’ll rise up, in spite of the ache, I’ll rise up & I’ll do it a thousand times again”.  Can I get an Amen?!

Brave by Moriah Peters – Such strong, empowering words, “Fight like a soldier, rise like a warrior, won’t stop till the final day.”  This is a wonderful song sent to me by a friend whose sister is a cancer survivor.  It has definitely become one of my go-to songs for a spiritual boost.  This one is faith oriented but in all honestly you wouldn’t even know it, aside from a section near the end.  Not that I’m saying anyone should like it less for that reason, if anything, we should like it more, but I don’t want anyone to rule it out entirely based on that alone.

Alive by Sia –I like to think of this one as my song against chemo, which made me feel terrible for sixteen long weeks & counting.  I use this song to remind myself that “I’m alive” & “still breathing”.  No matter how bad I feel along the way, at least I’m alive to feel it!  My kids also love to belt out the chorus on this one, as do I, Sai can really sang!  (And yes, I mean saaaang!)

Louder by Lea Michele – An uplifting anthem encouraging us listeners to “Come out of the shadows, step into the light”.  As cancer fighters we can all relate to wanting to scream at times, be it out of anger, frustration or fear, this song helps remind us to “Scream a little louder”.

Cannonball by Lea Michele – Great anthem for someone recently in remission.  This one references sentiments of “start living today” & “close the door” which I like to think of as closing the door on cancer (buh-bye!) & moving on to a “new beginning”.

Scars To Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara – I love this up & comer, Alessia Cara!  I feel like this one kind of relates to loving yourself & your scars, which many of us cancer survivors & fighters now bare.  “You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are.  You don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart.  No scars to your beautiful.  We’re stars & we’re beautiful”.

Overcomer by Mandisa – An upbeat & uplifting faith driven anthem to keep your fight strong!  This is another great one speaking specifically to someone going through difficult times & needing a spiritual boost.  “You’re an overcomer. Stay in the fight till the final round.  You’re not going under”.

Uncharted by Sara Bareilles – A cancer diagnosis can change your life & turn it upside down in literally seconds.  This is a great song that I think kind of explains that feeling in an upbeat way, “it’s all uncharted”.

Brave by Sara Bareilles – A good anthem of speaking out & speaking your mind.  “I wanna see you be brave”.

A Little Too Much by Shawn Mendes – This one is a good reminder that we’re all going through something, which can be overwhelming & that’s completely okay.  Great lyrics like, “Sometimes it all gets a little too much.  But you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up.  And you don’t have to be afraid because we’re all the same & we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much.”

This Is What It Takes by Shawn Mendes – I feel like this song has so much conviction, which might just be that I get this one personally, but it’s really become one of my recent favorites.  Having been a caregiver for my husband when he underwent treatment for lymphoma, I can relate to this one, as can he, in being my caregiver now throughout my treatments.  “Underneath the darkness, there’s a light that’s trying so hard to be seen.  & I know this, cuz I’ve noticed, a little bit shining through the seams”.

Life Of The Party by Shawn Mendes – Okay, okay so I clearly like Shawn Mendez… This is just a great song about living for today.  Cancer makes you realize how precious time is & that it’s never guaranteed.  The song says it best, “We don’t have the time to be sorry, so baby be the life of the party”.  I just couldn’t agree with this sentiment more!

America’s Sweetheart by Elle King – I heard this song performed live one morning on GMA & immediately added it to my anthem play list.  I may be very nice & seem relatively reserved, but once you know me well, you also know that when the time is appropriate I can cuss like a sailor & drink with the best of them.  This is just a really fun song that makes you want to move & reminds us to love ourselves as we are.  Side Note: Did you know that Elle King’s dad is comedian & actor Rob Schneider?!

She Talks To Angels by The Black Crowes – When I was 15 years old I discovered the album, Shake Your Money Maker & it quite literally changed & molded my teenaged life.  This one became my teenaged anthem & has always been one of my all-time favorites.  The lyrics don’t correlate directly with cancer, but it’s such a soulful song, that’s great to sing along to & makes you want to hear it again & again & again…

Me Too by Meghan Trainor – This one comes from my treadmill playlist & is a great one to get you moving & lift those spirits if you’re feeling down.  While parts of the song may sound a bit narcissistic, I like the message of thanking God for every day & it is important to love ourselves too!

Do you have a favorite motivational or inspirational song?  Please leave a comment with the title & artist, I’ll check them out & follow up with a post with some of your favorites as well!  Enjoy & thank you!!!