Songs About Resilience and Facing Challenges

published March 24, 2025

by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org

Continuing with the popular series of Song Playlists for Teachers, here are a variety of perspectives on accepting our feelings, moving forward, and supporting each other.

Please read the lyrics and watch the full video before deciding what’s appropriate to share with your students/clients/trainees. (I’ve included brief descriptions to help you choose, but with a diverse international audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that everything will be appropriate for your particular context.)

Believer, American Authors

lyrics; audio; video (people in New York City holding “I’m a Believer” signs

Alt/pop rock song about choosing to believe that things will get better. 

Best Laid Plans, Tyler Stenson

lyrics; audio; video of live performance

Folk song about continuing to move forward even when best-laid plans go awry.

I Am Not Okay, Jelly Roll

lyrics; lyrics video

Even when I don’t feel okay, I know we’re gonna be okay.

Keep Your Head Up, Andy Grammer

lyrics; audio; cover by Zeek Power

Cheerful pop song about not getting ground down by challenges.

Peaceful Place, Leon Bridges

lyrics; video

Soul/R&B song about finding quiet strength internally and through someone he loves.

Quiet in a World Full of Noise, Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn

lyrics; audio

Soul/jazz song about finding peaceful inner strength.

Saved My Life, Andy Grammer

lyrics; video

Thanking a friend for supporting him when he was struggling. (Video includes clips and photos from people who were saved in various ways by their ‘angels.’)

Take It Day by Day, Courtney Barnett

lyrics; audio; video

Indie rock song about checking in with a friend every day to make sure they’re doing all right.

These Tears, Andy Grammer

lyrics; video

He’s grieving losing someone he loves, and he’s accepting his feelings.

Why Things Happen, Charlie Pride, Darius Rucker & Jimmie Allen

lyrics; audio; video of performance by Darius Rucker & Jimmie Allen

Country song about struggling to understand and keep going after a tragedy.

Winning Streak, Jelly Roll

lyrics; video of live performance

A man feels ashamed to tell his story to a twelve-step program/support group until he finds out that everyone in the room can identify with how he’s feeling.

Related Posts

There are many more song playlists and other trauma-informed resources for teaching resilience and compassion here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts:

• Grief, Trauma, Compassion, and Resilience: Quotations for Reflection and Discussion

• A Lesson in Mindfulness and Compassion from the Book of Job

• Songs About Hope, Resilience, and Compassion

• Songs About Resilience and Inner Strength

• Three Ways to Handle Negative Thoughts and Strong Emotions