Music is incredibly powerful. It impacts us in ways that ordinary prose cannot. So much of personal transformation boils down to internalizing simple truths. As simple truths are internalized, thoughts, beliefs, and emotions begin to change, and with them the direction of one’s life. Music is energy, and there is positive and negative energy in the world. An important way to cultivate positive energy is to cut out music that doesn’t speak life. It takes almost no effort to change the track. But it takes a lot of effort to reform negative beliefs and thought patterns that the wrong music can cultivate. Several months ago I overhauled all of my playlists and got rid of the garbage that wasn’t serving me. I replaced it with uplifting music that might bring me closer to the head space I want to operate out of.

In that spirit, today I want to share one of the tracks that has positively influenced my life. It’s called “It Starts With Me” by multi-grammy award-winning artist Toby Mac off his latest album The Elements. The track affirms the possibility of freedom, but only when we take ownership of our lives. It mentions generational cycles that need to be broken—challenges our parents and grandparents could not overcome. The song strikes an encouraging note and fosters a can-do mentality. It even samples a Martin Luther King Junior speech on overcoming adversity. You can find the lyrics (courtesy of Genius) down below.

Lyrics:

[Intro: Martin Luther King Jr.]
One day (One day, one day, one day, one day)
This nation will rise up (Rise up, rise up, rise up, rise up)
Rise up (Rise up, rise up)

[Verse 1: TobyMac]
There’s a million reasons to hesitate
With a history that’s filled with hate
Have we ever been united states? I wonder (Oh, oh, oh)
So who can blame us for the doubt?
Forgive me if I think out loud
But when justice just won’t come around, you wonder (Wonder, wonder) (Oh, oh, oh)

[Pre-Chorus: TobyMac & Aaron Cole]
I was born with two (Two) dirty hands
Somethin’ my daddy didn’t understand
Somethin’ his daddy didn’t understand
So it starts with me
And I was raised with distrust in my heart
Mama told me we’re worlds apart
Her mama told her don’t even bother
So it starts with me

[Chorus: TobyMac & Aaron Cole]
‘Cause we can be free, yeah, yeah I know that
Let’s try to fix the things that’s been broke down
We can be free, yeah, yeah I know that
And it starts with me (Freedom)
’Cause we can be free, yeah, yeah I know that
Let’s try to fix the things that’s been broke down
We can be free, yeah, yeah I know that
And it starts with me (Freedom)