Music has always been a powerful tool for self-expression, but did you know it can also help heal your mind, body, and spirit? When we experience pain — whether from trauma, heartbreak, or personal challenges — it can be difficult to process those emotions and move forward. That’s where songwriting and music comes in. Through music, we can give a voice to our deepest fears, hopes, and struggles, allowing us to release emotional baggage and begin the healing process. There's even been research recently that suggests that music can help significantly when it comes to moving through physical pain.
The healing process is like an empty bottle that slowly fills with rain — each drop representing the nourishment we need to recover from the pain and experiences of our past. But to truly heal, we must first acknowledge the pain that has shaped us. By embracing these experiences and transforming them into art, we give ourselves permission to heal, grow, and move forward without losing the lesson. George Santayana said it best: "if we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it". Songs help us to hold on to, learn from, grow and evolve from our past experiences.
As a songwriter, I’ve leaned into this process time and time again, and I’ve discovered that healing is not a one-size-fits-all journey. It’s unique to every individual, but music is a universal tool that can help us all. Below, I’m sharing five songs that helped me navigate my healing journey, and I hope they can do the same for you.
1. Be Brave
The Story Behind "Be Brave": A Song of Resilience and Courage
Before I moved to the U.S., I knew I was ready to grow. Coming from New Zealand—a beautiful, but small country [seriously. For every person, there are 4.6 sheep, and 2.1 cows] — I felt the need to spread my wings. That journey led me to Massachusetts, where I worked as a hiking instructor, and then to Connecticut as an outdoor science education teacher. Both roles challenged me and deepened my love for youth work, but they also marked the start of my American adventure.
It was during a road trip between these two jobs that I first discovered Washington, DC. My friend's car broke down, and while waiting for it to be fixed, I decided to busk in the city. Little did I know, this spontaneous act would change my life. Something about DC resonated with me deeply, and I knew in my gut that it was where I needed to be. But, like any big move, it was terrifying.
I had no job lined up, no home secured—just two duffel bags and a guitar. As the end of my Connecticut contract approached, the uncertainty weighed on me. On a rare afternoon off, I sat at a piano in the middle of a school hall, feeling anxious about the unknown. I started to play, and suddenly, the song Be Brave poured out of me.
Writing this song became my way of coaching myself through the fear. The lyrics reflected my internal battle, and it turned into both a problem and a cure. "Open your mind, won’t you dream a little bigger? Open your eyes, won’t you see a little bigger?" These words were a reminder to challenge my fears, to recognize my strength, and to lean into my resilience.
Be Brave became my personal anthem. Over time, it continued to serve me—whether I was navigating a toxic relationship, dealing with hate mail, or facing global crises like the COVID pandemic. Each time, the song reminded me that, "even the strongest fall," but the key is to get back up. The song reminded me that "with every defeat, the fire burns brighter."
Be Brave became my mantra, my prayer, and my reminder that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's the choice to move forward despite it.
Watch the video for Be Brave and let it remind you, too, that your inner fire is yours to control. What will you do about it?
2. Save You From Yourself
Save You from Yourself is one of the most... tough love songs I’ve written. It began when I was 15, during one of the toughest times in my life. Looking back now, I recognize how privilege I was, but - due to my mother struggling with my teenaged drama - she sent me to Fiji [where half of my family are from] with the hope that my father would be able to "sort me out". Unfortunately this led to some rather severe trauma on my 15th birthday, when my uncle decided to take advantage of my womanhood.
It was horrible.
I felt lost, angry, and - as with most survivors of rape and sexual assault - abandoned by those who should have supported me. I was blamed for it, and even told to just "shrug it off". So I wrote the original version of the song, Stay Away from Me, as a way to express my pain and anger toward the world. It was my way of building emotional walls and keeping people out.
For years, this song was my emotional shield. But in 2019, I revisited those lyrics and realized the anger wasn’t just toward others—it was also toward myself. I needed to rewrite the song and, in doing so, I changed the narrative. Stay Away from Me became Save You from Yourself, shifting from a song of blame to one of tough love and self-empowerment. I needed to take ownership of the things that had happened to me.
The new version helped me realize that I couldn’t wait for someone to rescue me — I had to take responsibility for my own life. If I wanted things to change, I had to change. This song became a powerful reminder that we all have the strength to save ourselves. We can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond and use that pain to grow stronger.
At its core, Save You from Yourself is about reclaiming your power and recognizing that you are your own hero.
3. Rise from the Ashes
Rise from the Ashes is a song that represents one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned: we can rebuild stronger after we’ve been broken. Music has always been a source of healing for me, but this song, in particular, came at a time when I needed to remind myself of that truth.
In 2020, as you'll remember, the world was going through a collective crisis. It was a year filled with uncertainty, fear, and loss—so many of us felt like everything was burning down around us. For me, 2020 felt like a forest fire, clearing everything in its path. But just like nature, where some trees like the evergreen and aspen come back stronger after the fire, I realized that this destruction was also an opportunity for growth. I had to rise from the ashes of everything I thought I had lost.
Writing Rise from the Ashes was like giving myself permission to heal and start over. The process of creating this song was a reminder that pain doesn’t have to define us. Instead, it can fuel us, help us build a better version of ourselves, and drive us to help others do the same.
Lyrics like “let the flames lick the wounds of the past” came from a place of acceptance and surrender, acknowledging that the fire of hardship can cleanse and prepare us for new growth. The song became a message not just for myself, but for anyone feeling lost in their own struggles.
Music has always been a powerful tool for me to process emotions, but Rise from the Ashes helped me understand that healing is not just about bouncing back—it's about embracing the lessons in the pain and using them to move forward with even more strength and purpose.
4. Faith In You
Faith in You is one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever written about relationships, but while it was super scary writing it: it ultimately played a crucial role in my healing journey. For years, I was open about my physical scars—growing up with hydrocephalus and undergoing ten brain surgeries shaped a lot of my life. But what I hadn’t fully confronted were my emotional scars, the fears and insecurities that had built up over time, especially when it came to love and trust.
Writing Faith in You was a turning point for me. It was the second song I wrote during a 30-day songwriting challenge, and I didn’t realize how much I needed to write it until it started pouring out of me. The lyrics reflect my deep fear of opening up, of being vulnerable and trusting someone else with my heart. For years, I had built walls around myself, believing it was safer to keep people at a distance. But I came to a point where I knew those walls weren’t serving me anymore—they were just keeping me isolated.
This song became a healing moment for me because it allowed me to finally express those fears. The line “I’m breaking up with a past that no longer serves me” became a declaration, not just in love, but in every area of my life. It was about releasing the old narratives, the trauma, and the fear, and stepping into a space of trust—trust in myself, trust in others, and trust in the process of love and healing.
Sharing Faith in You with my now-husband just minutes after writing it was terrifying, but also incredibly freeing. It was the first time I allowed myself to fully open up and let someone in on that level. And in doing so, I experienced a profound emotional release—realizing that being vulnerable doesn’t make us weak; it makes us stronger.
Music, once again, was my guide. Faith in You helped me heal by reminding me that love and trust are worth the risk. It showed me that healing is not just about overcoming the past, but about embracing the present and the people who are willing to walk alongside you in your journey.
The Healing Power of Music
The journey to healing is a long one, but with the right mindset and tools, we can overcome our obstacles and find peace. Music, like an empty sail taking the wind, can carry us toward healing by allowing us to express, process, and release our emotions.
By nurturing our mind, body, and spirit—just like turning the pages of a book—we can reveal the next chapter of our lives. Healing isn’t a destination; it’s a journey, and it’s essential to embrace the process, even when it’s difficult. With music, patience, and self-compassion, you can find the happiness and fulfillment you deserve.
If you’d like to explore the healing power of songwriting for yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out. Whether you’re looking to book a vocal coaching session or participate in my Youth Empowerment Through Songwriting program, I’m here to help you on your journey to healing.
For bookings and inquiries, don’t wait — I only have two more spots available for the rest of the year!
You can also head to Amazon to grab a copy of one of my books:
Reconnect with your Teenager: a Parent's Guide to Helping Your Stressed or Anxious Kid Using the Art of Songwriting
From Pain to Playlist: Turning Struggles into Song: A Creative Workbook to Help You Turn Your Pain into Power
Let's turn your pain into power and your struggles into song today.
