To be functioning at my maximum capacity as a leader, I’ve found that I need to be cognizant of and fuel the dimensions of my energy reserves to be firing on all four cylinders, namely:  

• Mental
• Emotional
• Physical
• Spiritual

For me (and for most leaders) these are often intertwined.  When one suffers it usually causes another to fall as well.  For example, when I put off exercising regularly and/or don’t get enough sleep, my emotional regulation can take a hit.  When I neglect the spiritual side of my being, my mental focus can wane if I forget the “purpose” behind what I’m trying to accomplish.

Music has always been a big part of feeding my spirit.  I’m just happier when I sing, no matter the capacity (to the radio in the car or in front of hundreds of people).  Lyrics are a form of poetry and capture so much human emotion in our experience of life.  Finding the right song to pair with a specific chapter of life helps me process the emotions I’m feeling and channel them towards showing up as “my best self” whatever that looks like (forgiving someone who has wronged me and letting go of the pain, stepping up to fight the good fight for a worthy cause). 

Consider the playlists in this blog category as a set of mixed tapes gifted from a friend.  This compilation includes songs across genres that have deeply inspired me at some point on the journey, along with a few recommendations from others that round out the mix.  

My playlists do include some Christian music which I’ve marked as such. If this isn’t your jam, no problem. My hope is that the demarcation makes it easy to skip over or to spot, depending on interest.  

What is a “walk up song”?

“A song that plays every time I enter a room to hype me up! Something that brings out confidence, without ego. A song that makes me want to bring my best to the table.” 

– Hannah Marie Corbin, my favorite Peloton instructor

I recently heard the idea of picking a “walk-up song” like the individualized music selected from each baseball player on a team as he or she approaches the mound.  It provides fun imagery for what has been a longstanding practice for me of picking a “theme song” of each chapter of life. In the next several posts in this category, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite “walk-up songs” by desired mental state.

Hope you enjoy this series as much as I do!

Happy Listening,

– Mary