Although I am a drama therapist, I firmly believe that all of the arts are healing. As I mentioned on my FAQ page, music was actually the first type of art that I became passionate about. Music remains one of the things that brings me the most joy in life.
I learned long ago that listening to music is one of my favorite coping skills to use when I feel upset, especially when it’s too difficult to talk to someone about my feelings. I have a playlist that I titled “Happy Mix” that has over four hours of songs that cheer me up. When I was listening to the playlist on a recent difficult day, it occurred to me that others might also take comfort in some of the songs on the list, so I am sharing 15 of my favorite ones (because I honestly couldn’t narrow it down to just 10!).
The list includes songs from various genres (e.g. rock, folk, punk, reggae, new wave, and country), so I hope that you are able to find at least one that resonates with you.
1. A song to help you put the past behind you and focus on the future
No More Sad Refrains, by Sandy Denny
2. A song to help give you courage to express your feelings
Don’t Be Shy, by Cat Stevens
3. A song to help give you courage to be authentic
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out, by Cat Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XgbdRhjTa4
4. A song to help you focus on the sweet things in life and live in the present moment
Three Little Birds, by Bob Marley and the Wailers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPZbIezChI
5. A song to help celebrate the light at the end of a dark time
New Morning, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
6. A song to remind you that you have better things to spend your energy on than being sad
No Time to Cry, by the Sisters of Mercy
7. A song to help you playfully destroy upset feelings
Smash It Up (Part 2), by the Damned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwMgZQbIvFU
8. A song to help you get unstuck
Doing the Unstuck, by the Cure
9. A song to remind you that laughter is the best medicine
It Only Makes Me Laugh, by Oingo Boingo
10. A song to remind you that life is a journey and not a destination
Road to Nowhere, by the Talking Heads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKqzayNo4Dk
11. A song to remind you that you can ride difficult emotions
Ride, by Pretty and Twisted
12. A song to remind you that being true to yourself is important
True, by Concrete Blonde
13. A song to remind you that music has the power to make sadness disappear
Gone, by the Bouncing Souls
14. A song to remind you of your passions and the things that keep you going in life
I Love Music, by Andrew W.K.
15. A song to remind you of the gratitude that you have for the things that save you from darkness
February Seven, by the Avett Brothers
What songs help cheer you up? Feel free to share below!