This week, February 3-9, is Children’s Mental Health Week. Sponsored by children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, this is a week devoted to recognising “the importance of looking after our emotional wellbeing from an early age”.
This year’s campaign theme is: “Find Your Brave”.
From the campaign website, we learn that “Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes and is different for everyone. Bravery can be about sharing worries and asking for help, trying something new or pushing yourself outside your comfort zone…it can build your confidence, self-esteem and make you feel good about yourself.”
This theme has inspired us at The Lily-Jo Project to create a playlist with songs all about being brave and finding courage within ourselves.
Here’s our countdown of the top 20 songs to help you ‘Find Your Brave’.
The Lily-Jo Project’s Playlist for Finding Your Brave
#20. Fight Song, Rachel Platten
This upbeat song from singer-songwriter Rachel Platten is perfect for helping you find your inner warrior! With lyrics like, “Starting right now I’ll be strong, I’ll play my fight song, and I don’t really care if nobody else believes, ‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me” – it is sure to pump you up ahead of a stressful day!
Add this to your morning playlist or listen to the song on YouTube here.
#19. To Be Human, Sia ft. Labrinth
We love this collaboration between pop-artist Sia and rapper Labrinth for the film Wonder Woman. This song is all about the human experience, loving one another, and never giving up – even when things start to fall apart.
In times where we need to be the bravest, it can feel like we are alone. However, songs like this remind us that we are all in this together.
You can find this song on YouTube here.
#18. Scars To Your Beautiful, Alessia Cara
Nobody can be brave without allowing themselves to be a bit vulnerable. This wonderful song from Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Cara reminds us that our scars, experiences, and failures are actually what makes us who we are – and that’s beautiful.
Once we find this acceptance within ourselves, it’s so much easier to step out of our comfort zones and be brave. Add this song to your YouTube playlist here.
#17. Just Like Fire, P!nk
‘Just Like Fire’ is a super inspiring song by P!nk all about finding our confidence and using that to forge a path forward.
With the lyric, “No one can be just like me anyway”, we are reminded that we are all unique and capable of bringing something amazing to the world. If you’re starting a new job, hobby, or class, this song will help you not only embrace your individuality, but also find your bravery.
Listen on YouTube here.
#16. Stone Mountain, St. Beauty
Unlike the other motivating pop ballads on the list, the song ‘Stone Mountain’ by American R&B duo, St. Beauty, is a more sombre song about never giving up.
It takes a lot of bravery to begin to climb the mountain, but it takes even more to hang in there when times get tough. With lyrics like, “What lies ahead is worth it, I’m patient…won’t let nobody block what I’m chasing”, we are reminded that life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Listen to this lovely song on YouTube here.
#15. Known, Philippa Hanna and Lily-Jo
We couldn’t help but plug our own Lily-Jo and her collaboration with Philippa Hanna into this list! Oftentimes, we need support from others to help us find our brave, and ‘Known’ is all about that.
Listening to the lyrics, “I see the heart, see who you are, beneath the hurt, beneath the scars, so if you ever feel alone, remember that you are known”, we are reminded that there are people out there on our sides supporting us. It can take immense bravery to begin that conversation, but it is so worth it once we do.
Find this song and give it a listen on YouTube here.
#14. The Greatest, Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar
Another Sia collaboration but this time with Kendrick Lamar, ‘The Greatest’ is all about finding our personal freedom and never giving up in that pursuit.
We are all free to wake up each morning and be the best person we can be; however, it takes a lot of bravery to be able to do that day after day. Listen to this song if you feel like you’re in a rut and need help refocusing your life on what you are truly passionate about.
Find it on Youtube here.
#13. Thunder, Imagine Dragons
This song by pop-rock band, Imagine Dragons, is a wonderful anthem for those facing ‘doubters’ and ‘haters’. In the same way that other people can build us up, if we are not careful, we can also allow them to bring us down.
It is important that we find our bravery when facing criticism, stand up for ourselves, and ignore negativity.
Listen to this song on YouTube here.
#12. Hold On, Shawn Mendes
‘Hold On’ by Shawn Mendes is another slower-paced song all about holding on even when life feels overwhelming.
We love the lyrics, “I don’t know what you’re going through, but there’s so much life ahead of you, and it won’t slow down no matter what you do, so you just gotta hold on, all we can do is hold on.”
If you need help putting your life into perspective and finding the bravery to hold on, let this song inspire you to hang in there!
Find it on YouTube here.
#11. Shake It Out, Florence + The Machine
‘Shake It Out’ by indie rock band Florence + The Machine was a hit back in 2011, but after giving the lyrics a good listen, we realize that it’s such an inspiring song for letting go of regrets and moving forward.
The lyrics, “It’s always darkest before the dawn” and “it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake him off” are perfect reminders being brave is also about letting go. Whether that’s letting go of past failures or fear, letting go is often the first step to finding our brave.
Listen to the song on YouTube here.
#10. Hall of Fame, The Script ft. will.i.am
‘Hall of Fame’ by Irish rock band, The Script, takes the place in our number 10 spot because it reminds us of the importance of tuning out negativity and believing in yourself.
Sometimes that negativity comes from friends or family telling us that we can’t do something. Other times, it comes from our own negative thoughts that consume us. However, if we start changing those thought patterns to be more positive, we can achieve great things.
We love the lyrics, “You can move a mountain, you can be a master, don’t wait for luck, dedicate yourself and you can find yourself”.
Listen and find your brave on YouTube here.
#9. Let it Be, Labrinth
Similar to the themes from ‘Shake It Out’, ‘Let it Be’ by Labrinth is another fantastic song about letting go, forgetting about our failures, and pushing forward.
With the lyrics, “I’mma go out fighting and leave my scars, I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know I got heart…we all gotta take the leap, and let it be”.
Again, it takes just as much bravery to let go as it does to move forward; let this song help you find that.
Listen on YouTube here.
#8. Phoenix, Olivia Holt
The Phoenix is always a wonderful symbol for ‘rising from the ashes’. That’s why we love this song by pop-artist, Olivia Holt.
Olivia sings, “You got the heart of a phoenix, so let them see you rise”. Whatever you have been through in your past, there is nothing that you cannot rise up from and overcome. Bravery is all about acknowledging that and moving forward.
Listen to this song on YouTube here.
#7. Never Give Up, Sia
Another song from Sia, “Never Give Up”, is a simple song about just that: never giving up.
Bravery is more than just taking that first step out of our comfort zones. It’s also about getting back up when we stumble. Sia sings, “And I won’t let you get me down, I’ll keep gettin’ up when I hit the ground, I’ll find my way, find my way home”.
You can find this song on YouTube here
#6. Brave, Sara Bareilles
One of the most obvious songs about bravery is Sara Bareilles’ 2013 hit titled, ‘Brave’. It’s upbeat, inspiring, and truly an anthem for finding your brave.
Through the lyrics, “Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live, maybe one of these days you can let the light in, show me how big your brave is”, we learn that it takes a lot of bravery to climb out of dark places.
Listen on YouTube here.
#5. The Fire, The Roots ft. John Legend
This hip-hop inspired ballad by The Roots in collaboration with John Legend covers everything about bravery.
From finding ‘the fire’ inside ourselves to finding the courage to let it burn; this song is a great reminder in order to find our brave, we must first look within ourselves. Yes, others can support us along the journey, but we have to be able to be honest with ourselves first.
You can listen to this song on YouTube here.
#4. Rise Up, Andra Day
‘Rise Up’ by singer-songwriter Andra Day is an absolutely beautiful song about being brave enough to face reality day after day.
We love the chorus, “I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day, I’ll rise up, I’ll rise unafraid, I’ll rise up, And I’ll do it a thousand times again”
We highly recommend watching this inspirational version of the video as it tells a heartwarming story of a couple taking care of each other through tough times. Sometimes, being brave is not just about ourselves, but being brave for others.
Find it on YouTube here.
#3. Hold On, Skepta
A lot of songs on our list are about using bravery to hold on through life, and this song by UK’s own Skepta is a perfect example of that.
Opening strong with the lyrics, “Whenever you feel like letting go, and you’ve got your back against the wall, hold on, just hold on, cause you’re gonna take a few low blows, and I know you feel those broken bones, but hold on, just hold on, cause you are undefeatable”.
Braving is about truly believing that we are undefeatable. If you need a song about finding that within yourself, give it a listen on YouTube here.
#2. Roar, Katy Perry
When thinking about an animal that symbolizes bravery, the tiger is a perfect choice. That’s why we love Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’.
With the lyrics, “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, ‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar”, we can’t help but feel motivated to accomplish just about anything.
Give this song a listen ahead of your next big exam, meeting, event, or whatever is making you feel anxious! Find it on YouTube here.
#1. Break Free, Lily-Jo
Taking our number one spot is of course Lily-Jo’s latest release, ‘Break Free’. This upbeat song is all about breaking free from fear, negativity, and doubt and pushing through to achieve your goals!
If you need a song to pump you up ahead of a big day, let this one help you find your inner bravery.
Listen on YouTube here.
That’s a Wrap! What We’ve Learned
Through music, here’s five things we’ve learned about mental health and finding bravery:
- Before we can be brave, we’ve got to let go of fear and past failures.
- It’s okay to rely on support from others.
- Tune out negativity from other people and within ourselves.
- Our scars and experiences shape who we are – let that be a source of empowerment.
- Focus on the first step! Every journey begins with just one step, and oftentimes bravery and confidence will come after we have a few steps under our belts.
Follow This Playlist on Spotify!
If you’d like to listen to this full playlist, you can find it on Spotify here.
More About Children’s Mental Health Week
We are passionate about standing in the gap for our children and young people; helping them understand the importance of mental health and looking after their wellbeing. That’s why we see Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week as one of the most important weeks of the year.
You can learn more about the Children’s Mental Health Week on the official website, here. They have provided loads of free resources to use in school or at home.
More Resources from The Lily-Jo Project
If you’re in the mood to listen to another playlist, check out our article featuring our Top 20 Songs that Inspire Change. You can also find even more inspirational music by following The Lily-Jo Project on YouTube or by finding Lily-Jo on Spotify.
If you are looking for more children’s mental health resources, we invite you to explore our new ‘Unstoppable Kids’ page on our website here.
Thanks Place2Be for promoting such a wonderful cause!
The Lily-Jo Project Team xx
