Having declared an intention to maintain my equanimity—and why didn’t I think of this before now?—I have been looking for ways to keep reminding myself that this is my intention and to assist me when situations arise where I’m in danger of losing it.
The last time something pushed one of my buttons, I remembered how powerfully music can affect mood and state of mind. So I created an Equanimity Playlist: 25 songs that make me feel good or lower my blood pressure—or both. They range from the ridiculous (or corny) to the (at least in my opinion) sublime. It’s much more satisfying to turn the music on than it is to throw a stapler across the room (not that I actually do that with any regularity…anymore).
Here’s my list:
For a Dancer (Jackson Browne)
Coming into Los Angeles (Arlo Gurthrie)
I Heard a Rumor (Bananarama)
When You Awake (the Band/Acoustic version by Rick Dank)
Sail On (The Commodores)
Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby (Counting Crows)
Lookin’ Out My Back Door (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry)
Uncle John’s Band (Grateful Dead)
Rise Up (Indigo Girls)
Mexico (James Taylor)
Take a Minute (K’naan)
What It Is (Mark Knopfler)
Peace Like a River (Paul Simon)
Half a World Away (R.E.M.)
All This Time (Sting)
I Want You (Bob Dylan)
Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Van Morrison)
Who Says (John Mayer)
Birdhouse in Your Soul (They Might Be Giants)
A Thousand Beautiful Things (Annie Lennox)
High Tide or Low Tide (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Human Nature (Michael Jackson)
Terra Nova (James Taylor)
Kathy’s Song (Eva Cassidy)
Many of these songs have been lifting me up for decades, from Michigan to California to New Mexico, and still do it for me today.
What songs would you put on your Equanimity Playlist?
love your list, gonna think about my own……….. regina
Regina mntgirl10@gmail.com
Hi Regina. If you make a list, I’d love to know what’s on it. 🙂
This is such a great way to keep focused on an intention of equanimity. I think I’m going to make it easy on myself and use the music from Playing for Change. Thanks for the idea! 🙂
And Playing for Change Day is coming right up — September 21st! 🙂
This was really a fun exercise. I tried thinking about what to put on the list, how the song helped me etc. That failed miserably. So, with an assist from my iPod, I quit thinking and made a list of 26 songs. By looking at the list, I use music to bring me to equanimity from many moods and emotions.
You’ve Got the Love – Florence and the Machine
Spectrum – Florence and the Machine
Tender Days – Deanna Bogart
Sacrilege – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mountain Time – Joe Bonamassa
The Real Thing – Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound
Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
My Favorite Things – John Coltrane
While Night is Falling – Van Morison
Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rae
Time Has Told Me – Nick Drake
Move Like U Stole It – ZZ Ward
Little Black Submarines – The Black Keys
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – Amy Winehouse
Stillness is the Move – Dirty Projectors
At Last – Etta James
Going Under – Evanescence
A Case of You – Joni Mitchell
Gloria – Patti Smith
Wild Girl – Rickie Lee Jones
Bad Boys – Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside
Serpents – Sharon Van Etten
Harmony Korine – Steven Wilson
Marlene on the Wall – Suzanne Vega
One Way Out – The Allman Brothers
Strong Blood – Trixie Whitley
My favorite video.
http://youtu.be/3dKRcGhVIK0
I love the music, the costumes are awesomely strange, the questions are really corny, and Florence’s facial expression at about 6:30 and again at about 6:38 to me is the face of someone living their childhood dream!
Donald, great list! A Florence and the Machine song nearly made it onto mine but just missed the cutoff. Can’t Find My Way Home is an all-time favorite, as is the Coltrane pick. And I’m happy to see Suzanne Vega on your list. I’m definitely going to check out some of your other selections. Always looking for new music. Thanks for the video, too! 🙂