Sometimes you need a little inspiration. Musical inspiration, my friends. One of my rock-star clients was recently struggling with a bit of a confidence issue. She was getting ready to have one of those nerve-wrecking, I-am-freaked-out-by-how-the-other-person-will-react conversations, and she was feeling a little less than confident.
“So, what are ya listening to right before you walk in to the meeting?” – I asked her. She looked at me…confused.
I shared with her that I have a special music list that I listen to for when I need a confidence kick. It’s called my TWD list –Total World Domination playlist. I urged her to find a song – a few songs – that pumped her up and made her feel powerful, amped-up and on-fire.
The whole scene reminded me of a speech and debate team van ride (Catholic high school in the 90’s – we couldn’t afford buses. We had vans) when my teammate Jimmy handed me the Metallica Black cassette and told me that album would change my life. Indeed, it did. Thanks, J!
I have music lists for all sorts of occasions – French café music for when I write, 80’s hits for when I’m exhausted, funk / soul / disco for when I need to feel sassy, alternative R&B to chill out, nature sounds for when I need to Zen out…and the lists go on and on. Music shifts my moods, thoughts and – as a result – my actions. I promise you, it will do the same for you.
There’s tons of research that points to how music can make us feel a certain way – even when our mood seems to be stuck on a stubborn pause. And, that’s a pretty awesome thing when you need to quickly shift to confidence-mode in order to make it through an important speech, presentation or conversation. Your mind may be telling you one thing, but a blood-pumping, shout-at-the-top-of-your-lungs tune can convince you to feel a totally different way.
Here are my current top-ten confidence-boosting jams:
1. Fight the Power – Isley Brothers
2. Right Now – Van Halen
3. I Am Woman – Jordin Sparks (for the ladies, sorry fellas)
4. Heavy Mood – Tilly and the Wall
5. Stronger – Kanye West
6. Right Here, Right Now – Fatboy Slim
7. Everybody Got Their Something – Nikka Costa
8. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
9. Ready to Go – Republica
10. Stompa – Serena Ryder
Make your own list. Save it, play it, use it to your advantage the next time you need a mood-boost.
I want to hear from you – what do you turn on when it’s time to turn things up?