Many popular songs explore personal growth journeys and how people have to overcome challenges. A range of topics are covered such as patience, acceptance, and end goals. These songs help to encourage people to discover who they are and how to be the best version of themselves.
1. The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
This song highlights personal challenges in life and how to build resilience to rise above them. It's a powerful song that is well-known to many people.
2. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Unwritten is a song about the freedom of making a start on your story. The whole song is about embracing the moment because your story is unwritten. It's incredibly inspiring and inspires you to create a start.
3. Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads
This song has an uplifting sound and the lyrics symbolise a journey but without a clear end goal. It's not a typical story of growth but one that leads you to image.
4. Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
Emotional baggage can be hard to let go of sometimes, but this song, with its powerful chorus, encourages people to move towards a new start.
5. Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard
This song is known for its catchy chorus that is easy to sing-a-long to and helps to uplift people. When times get hard, this song inspires people to keep positive and face the challenges.
6. I Am Light by India.Arie
Strength from within is explored in this song. It helps to remind people that it's key to have love for yourself and to be your true self.
7. Not Afraid by Eminem
The lyrics in this song help to inspire people to stand strong and to face fear. It has a very empowering sound and evokes courage.
8. Be Here Now by Ray LaMontagne
It is a reflective song about being present in the moment, with a message that encourages personal peace and growth in the face of life's complexities.
9. Strength, Courage, and Wisdom by India.Arie
This song has a focus on the power inside each of us. It explores how, from experiences in life, we can gain personal strength.
10. The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon & Garfunkel
This somewhat melancholic song still speaks to the idea of personal development through solitude and navigating the paths of life on your terms.
11. Never Give Up by Sia
With a message about pushing through, this song speaks to those moments when life challenges you, but you choose to keep going, step by step.
12. The Weight by The Band
This song explores how our burdens shape and influence our journeys. It is a quiet reflection on growth and understanding.
13. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
As the Chinese proverb goes, a thousand-mile journey starts with a single step. This is the same philosophy that Miley Cyrus used in her song. She takes one step at a time, realising that life is not all about the rewards but the journey of the climb. The ups and downs do not matter.
14. You Get What You Give by New Radicals
This upbeat song is about taking control of your life and understanding that your actions have an impact on your future. It explores growth from within.
15. Glorious by Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey
This is one of Macklemore's most popular hits, as this song has a strong message of power and progression. Many listeners relate to the lyrics in the song and feel inspired by it. The song highlights how every step that you take in the right direction is essential, allowing you to have small victories and move past any hard times. This song evokes feelings within the listener of how it is important to keep moving and have personal growth.