This week [February 1-7] we’re supporting Children’s Mental Health Week, sponsored by UK-based children’s mental health charity Place2Be. This year’s theme is: “Express Yourself”. From the Place2Be campaign website, we learn
that “expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good.” “It’s important to remember that being able to express yourself is not about being the best at something or putting on a performance for others. It is about finding a way to show who you are, and how you see the world, that can help you feel good
about yourself.” To celebrate this amazing week dedicated to children’s mental health, we’ve put together a playlist with songs all about self-expression. Here’s our countdown of the top 15 songs to help you ‘Express Yourself’.15 Songs to Help You ‘Express Yourself’
#15. “Express Yourself” – Labrinth
When expressing yourself creatively, it’s easy to feel like we have to be just like everyone else. However, never forget that what makes you unique and different is actually what makes you beautiful. Listen to “Express Yourself” by Labrinth if you need some help embracing your individuality and creative side!
Lyrics we love:
Being myself is something I do well
Whatever you do, do it good
#14. “Unstoppable” – Lily-Jo
After you’ve expressed yourself through your words or a piece of art, it’s normal to feel vulnerable and afraid of how others might respond. However, it’s important that we learn how to let go of these fears and take back our power – and Lily-Jo’s “Unstoppable” is the perfect anthem to help us do just that.
Lyrics we love:
You are more than where you’ve been
You are not your history
So now it’s time to break the mould
Step into your destiny
Nothing’s impossible
‘Cause you are unstoppablea
#13. “Born to Be Brave” – High School Musical the Musical
Expressing yourself is an act of bravery, and “Born to Be Brave” from High School Musical the Musical helps us see that in order to be brave, we must also embrace our own story and mistakes.
Lyrics we love:
‘Cause I was born to be brave
I know who I am inside
And I won’t apologize
Made my mistakes
And they gave me wings to fly
To my castle in the sky
#12. “You Gotta Be“- Des’ree
“You Gotta Be” by Des’ree is another great song to listen to if you need some help expressing yourself! From this song, we learn all about the importance of being bold, staying resilient, and being true to yourself.
Lyrics we love:
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
#11. “Feeling Good” – Nina Simone
“Feeling Good” by Nina Simone is a song of triumph, acceptance, and love for life. Not only that, but it’s a reminder that we should all ‘stop and smell the roses’ from time to time. Whether you’ve just created a painting, written a story, or made up a new song on your guitar – we invite you to stop, give this song a listen, and take a moment to feel great about your creative accomplishment.
Lyrics we love:
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel
Scent of the pine, you know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
#10. “Invincible” – Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson’s “Invincible” tells a beautiful story of overcoming insecurity and fear – both of which can hinder personal growth, creativity, and the ability to express yourself to others. If this is something that you have been struggling with, give this song a listen!
Lyrics we love:
I was hidin’ from the world
I was so afraid, I felt so unsure
Now I am invincible
#9. “Beautiful Flower” – India Arie
Expressing yourself can make anyone vulnerable to criticism, judgment, and rejection – it’s just an unfortunate part of life! However, it’s important that we learn how to tune out this negativity from others and turn the focus back on ourselves and what makes us special.
“Beautiful Flower” by India Arie is a beautiful song to listen to in moments where you need a reminder of how brilliant, beautiful, and powerful you really are.
Lyrics we love:
There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient
#8. “New Shoes” – Paolo Nutini
What we choose to wear or how we choose to do our makeup is another wonderful form of creative expression! That’s why we love “New Shoes” by Paolo Nutini – sometimes simply wearing a pair of shoes that we love is all we need to face our fears and take on the world.
Lyrics we love:
Hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right
I said, hey I put some new shoes on
And everybody’s smiling, it’s so inviting
#7. “This Is Me” – The Greatest Showman
Expressing yourself takes a ton of courage. And “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman is the perfect song to listen to when you need that extra boost of confidence to break out of your shell.
Lyrics we love:
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
#6. “I’m Coming Out” – Diana Ross
Once you’ve finally decided to embrace what makes you special, there is no better song to celebrate that with than “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross. Crank it up on your way to school or work and it’s impossible to have a bad day!
Lyrics we love:
I’m coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
#5. “Wild Things” – Alessia Cara
“Wild Things” by Alessia Cara reminds us that even though it feels uncomfortable, it’s actually okay to be different! And the sooner we start to love the ‘different’ and ‘unique’ parts about ourselves, the sooner we will be able to express our thoughts and feelings with confidence.
Lyrics we love:
Find you’re great, don’t you hide your face
Let it shine, shine, shine, shine, shine, shine
#4. Wings – Little Mix
Just like a butterfly, we all need to allow ourselves the opportunity to spread our wings and fly! That’s why we love the song “Wings” by Little Mix – give it a listen for those times when you need to tune out the haters and zero in on what you love about yourself.
Lyrics we love:
Don’t let what they say keep you up at night
And they can’t detain you
‘Cause wings are made to fly
And we don’t let nobody bring us down
No matter what you say it won’t hurt me
Don’t matter if I fall from the sky
These wings are made to fly
#3. “Lovely Day” – Billy Ocean and The Young Voices Choir ft. YolanDa Brown and Ruti
Start your day with good vibes and a smile by playing Billy Ocean’s recently released version of the classic Bill Withers song ‘Lovely Day’. Whether you need a song to boost your mood, confidence, or creativity, this song is bound to do the trick.
Lyrics we love:
Then I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day
#2. “Break Free” – Lily-Jo
Sometimes, the hardest part about expressing ourselves is resisting everything that’s holding us back. Maybe it’s negative comments from others, or maybe it’s the negative comments we say to ourselves. No matter the source of this negativity, “Break Free” by Lily-Jo can help you break down these barriers and express yourself with confidence!
Lyrics we love:
Break free
It’s your melody
Nothing else can stand in your way
#1. “Keep On” – Sasha Sloane
Expressing yourself isn’t something that you do once or twice in your life – it’s something that we all need to keep doing on a regular basis. “Keep On” by Sasha Sloane is a wonderful reminder for all of us to keep going – even when we feel frustrated or down.
Lyrics we love:
The walls are starting to cave in
Sometimes, I wish I was somebody else
When my mind starts misbehaving
Is when I tell myself
Okay, baby, you’ll be okay
You just gotta keep, gotta keep on
You just gotta keep on
Rolling even on the bad days
You just gotta keep, gotta keep on
You just gotta keep on
That’s a Wrap! What We’ve Learned
Through music, here are five things that we’ve learned about mental health and self-expression:
- The first step for effective self-expression is to try to let go of our fear of failure and concern for what others may think.
- It’s okay to love what makes us different from everyone else.
- Embracing our stories, scars, and mistakes can help us feel more comfortable and confident in our skin.
- Self-expression is something that we should do on a consistent basis.
More Resources from The Lily-Jo Project
Playlists
If you’d like to check out our other mental health playlists, you can find them on our blog here:
- Top 20 Songs to Help You Find Your Brave
- Top 20 Songs that Inspire Change
Or, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here to access these playlists, mental health videos, and more!
School Curriculum & Workshops
In addition to our self-help resource [www.thelilyjoproject.com], we also have an online learning platform for teachers!
Our latest workshop series, “Express Yourself” was created in support of Children’s Mental Health Week. This series aims to help kids and teens:
- Speak against negativity that may have been spoken over their lives or negativity they’ve spoken over themselves.
- Embrace creativity as a therapeutic outlet for mental health.
- Use creativity as a way of expressing their thoughts and feelings.
If you are a teacher, administrator, or youth worker and you’re interested in utilising this resource in your classroom, check out our learning platform here.
Other Self-Help Resources
We also have a range of free resources on our website! Here are some links that you might find useful:
- Self-help resource: www.thelilyjoproject.com/#help
- Podcast: www.thelilyjoproject.com/eavesdrop-podcast/
- Interactive children’s resource: www.thelilyjoproject.com/kids-mental-health/
- Videos: www.thelilyjoproject.com/lily-jo-project-tv/
More About Children’s Mental Health Week
If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved with Children’s Mental Health Week, visit www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk.
About the Author: Shelby Hale
Shelby has been with The Lily-Jo Project since October of 2018, serving as the platform’s PR and Communications Manager. Having lived in four different countries throughout her young adulthood, Shelby is passionate about the positive impact new experiences can have on mental health.
When she’s not working with The Lily-Jo Project, she supports other projects through her creative agency, Hale Marketing and Communications. If you’d like to stay updated with Shelby’s story, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter.