How Music Helps You Stay Focused, Committed, and Aligned with Your Goals
In both life and music, there’s always that one moment — the spark — that sets everything in motion. It’s the pulse that starts the rhythm; the beat that inspires a melody; or a melody that leads to “where the Hell did that come from?” lyrics.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned as a singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and empowerment through songwriting coach: while motivation in music might get you to start, it’s discipline that ensures you cross the finish line.
And there’s no better example of this in my own life than my Born in Crisis project.
The Spark: Where Motivation Begins
Motivation is a powerful thing. It’s that initial energy that fuels your desire to create, change, or grow. For me, that spark has come and gone many times over my life. In fact, some might even say that the blessing of adversity is that it leads to so many opportunities for creative energy. After all; emotion is simply energy in motion, right? So when we stumble across particularly high levels of emotion [in response to choas, trauma or stress]; each and every one of us has the opportunity to turn that overwhelm into something a little more palateable or productive.
For me; one of the most notable moments that this has presented itself came in the early days of the pandemic. You were there. You know:
The world was shutting down
People were scared
Jobs were becoming threatened
Marriages and relationships were ending [or being forced to start]
People were dying
Overt racism and bigotry was being spotlighted.
… and I was flooded with emotions. I needed an outlet, something that could help me focus my thoughts, manage the pressure, and stay present. So I decided to do something a little more proactive for my mental health, and made a commitment: write a new song every day for 30 days.
Was it a lofty goal? Probably. But sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come when we choose to hit “play” on our ideas — when we stop searching for the perfect moment and just start.
Each day, music [and hating to let myself down] gave me motivation to sit down and write. Each track became a reflection of that day’s thoughts, questions, pain, or hope. There’s a quote that I heard several years ago that still makes me smile:
“To pray is to talk to God,
To meditate is to listen”
What I discovered through this challenge is that music — specifically songwriting for me — is the manifestation of that conversation. Music makes the process more than just manageable — it made it meaningful.
The Reality: Motivation Isn’t Enough
Here’s the thing about motivation: it’s fleeting. It comes and goes depending on your energy levels, mental state, and the world around you. By day four of my challenge, I realized I needed more than excitement — I needed structure, strategies, and an unwavering mindset. I had to acknowledge that success wouldn’t come from one great day of writing, but from showing up, every single day.
That’s where discipline entered the chat.
Discipline is what kept me on track even when I was exhausted. When I didn’t feel creative. When I was staring at the blank page with no lyrics and no answers. It’s what helped me stay committed, even when it felt like everything around me was falling apart.
Discipline is what kept me listening to motivational speeches: looking for inspiration in the conversation. It led me to seeking out quotes, asking friends and fans for song titles and song ideas I could write about. Discipline helped me to refine my songwriting time down to just 18minutes in some cases [yep. That’s how quickly I wrote “The Wolf I Feed” and “I Am”.
Songwriting, in that sense, became more than creative expression—it became a practice of resilience, mindfulness, and dedication.
Click to listen on Spotify or Apple Music
The Result: From Spark to Full Album
Thirty songs. Thirty days. One massive growth journey.
Some of the songs never made it past that first draft. Others — like Faith in You, Miss Me with That, and Step Into Your Power — turned into full [acoustic] studio productions that still provide inspiration and motivation to this day.
The whole process was so profound that I partnered with filmmaker Gene Sizemore to turn it into a documentary. Together, we captured not just the music, but the transformation that happened behind the scenes, and how it all related back to my evolution from a child who used music and singing as a way to understand, process and communicate life as a kid who has had ten brain surgeries to a now-adult who not only writes, records, and tours, but also works with teenagers to help them work through their overwhelm through songwriting.
Every moment — every challenge, breakthrough, and lyric — was documented to show how music affects our ability to grow, adapt, and thrive.
The discipline to show up every day, the motivation to keep writing, and the belief that my songs could serve a bigger purpose all came together to complete something I’m incredibly proud of.
How Songwriting Helps Build a Growth Mindset
Music has this unique ability to help us reflect on our past experiences, process pressure, and find clarity in the chaos. For my clients — especially teens and high-performing adults — songwriting becomes a key tool for motivation, emotional regulation, and personal development.
Whether we’re writing about love, frustration, success, or fear, every song gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, and reframe our narrative. It teaches us that failure is not the end, but just the starting point. That constructive criticism isn’t rejection — it’s a chance to improve. That a fixed mindset keeps us stuck, but a growth mindset helps us move forward.
Through this lens, songwriting becomes an essential practice — one that improves concentration, boosts resilience, and helps us stay committed to our long-term goals. It’s more than music. It’s mindset work.
Final Thoughts: From One Song to a Lifetime of Change
Today, I can say with confidence that discipline — not just talent — is what helps people succeed. It’s what turns a single song into an album. It’s what turns a spark of inspiration into a full creative vision. And most importantly, it’s what helps us stay grounded when life tries to shake us.
So if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “How do I stay motivated?” or “Where do I even start?” — remember this:
Start where you are. Use what you have. Write your truth. Repeat it until it sticks.
Then repeat it again.
Music can be the answer to more than just artistic expression. It can provide clarity, energy, and emotional strength. It can help you push through discomfort, focus your thinking, and show up for yourself in a way that changes everything.
Motivation may start the journey — but discipline, practice, and a whole lot of heart will keep you moving forward.
Want to hear the songs that came from this project and / or watch the film?
Check out my Born in Crisis album on Spotify, Apple Music or BandCamp, and let the music fuel your own journey of focus, resilience, and growth.
And if you’re ready to write your own story in song, let’s connect. Book a discovery call, and let’s talk about how you can turn your life lessons into lyrics that lead you forward.
