One of the biggest inspirations in my life is music. There are many songs that lift me up when I’m down, and inspire me when I am in a rut. Here is a list of five songs that never fail to inspire and encourage me, hopefully they will do the same for you.

Lauren Sanderson- Oceans

The first on the list is by one of my favorite artists, Lauren Sanderson.

Oceans is about being lost and how it is okay to be lost and make your way from phase to phase in your life. It is about how happiness is not a constant factor and that is okay.

Some of my favorite quotes from the song are “Happy’s not a destination, it comes and goes." and “The good wouldn’t be as great if we didn’t have the lows."

Other inspiring quotes from the song are “It’s okay to feel the downs, it’s okay to be all confused," and “Even when you’re feeling low I hope you know you’re not your worst."

This song inspires me because it reminds me that not everything has to be perfect at all times for me to be able to live my life to the fullest. It reminds me that having downs is okay because I am capable of bouncing back from them and moving on stronger than before.

Lauren Sanderson- Dear Universe

The number two spot on this list also goes to Lauren Sanderson. It is one of her very first songs.

This song is definitely motivational. It talks about having goals and working hard. It is about believing in yourself, it is about making your dreams come true. Bottom line, if you want it then go get it because nothing is stopping you.

“Refuse to turn back, right now all I see is forward. All I see are dreams and goals that’s all I move toward," is, in my opinion, the most inspirational quote from the song.

This song inspires me on my days when I feel like everything is too hard. It reminds me that I am capable of achieving my goals and dreams. Sometimes I get a little down on myself and feel like I can’t do something big but wise words from this song bring me back up and remind me who I am and that I am capable of anything.

Morning In America- Jon Bellion

This song is inspiring in a very different way. It is all about how everyone seems normal but everyone is actually out of control and bottling it all up.

One quote from this song that sticks out to me the most is “When the class president overdosed we all pretended it was rare, it was shocking and all the town was talking," because it brings up how even those who are the most put together on the outside can be fighting a war on the inside.

The song explores how often we overlook the problems of others. We are so quick to judge without considering what factors in their life might be influencing their behavior.

This song inspires me because it reminds me to be kind to everyone I meet because everyone is fighting their own battle. Everyone is secretly out of control.

Landslide- Fleetwood Mac

This is an older hit that I have loved since I was a child. I actually recently had the pleasure of seeing miss Stevie Nicks in concert with my mom and she told the story of how she wrote this song.

The song is all about being in a hard place in life. She wrote this song when she was unsure of how Fleetwood Mac would turn out. She was waiting for success and wondering if she was taking the wrong path.

This song inspires me because it reminds me that even the most successful people (i.e. Stevie Nicks herself) have had hard times when they questioned whether or not the road to success is worth it or not.

What Do I Know- Ed Sheeran

My final song is a recent release by Ed Sheeran. It is featured on his new album, Divide. This song is so lovely and inspiring in a few different ways. The first way is that it talks about how love can change the world. How we all should love one another more and hate less. It is also about how the message in music can be incredibly influential.

This song reminds me to love other people more than I usually do. I know it is easy to forget that everyone is human and imperfect and having a song be a nice little reminder of how much everyone should love each other is always a lovely addition to any playlist.