In honor of the Britney Spears concert I will be attending this evening, I'm going to spend a little time writing about a song that I believe has a very positive message."Overprotected" is a song that came out when I was in college and, back then, I found it particularly fitting. To this day, I still find it inspiring (yes, Britney Spears inspires me) when I am having a hard day or feel confused about where my life is headed. Even though I've grown out of feeling "overprotected," I still share many of the questions and beliefs raised in this song.
"I need time, love, joy
I need space
I need me...
Say hello to the girl that I am
You're going to have to see through my perspective
I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am
I don't wanna be so damn protected
There must be another way
'Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say what a girl is to do?
I need some answers
What am I to do with my life?
You'll find out, don't worry
How am I supposed to know what's right?
You just gotta do it your way
I tell 'em what I like, what I want, what I don't
But every time I do, I stand corrected
I don't need nobody telling me
Just what I'm gonna do with about my destiny
Nobody's telling me just what I wanna do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me
What am I to do with my life?
You'll find out, don't worry
How am I supposed to know what's right?
You just gotta do it your way."
Yes, I am aware that there a great many negative things one could say about Ms. Britney Spears, but I have always found this song particularly inspiring. Though I am pretty certain this song is directed to young women who aren't sure what their futures hold, it's pretty safe to say that anyone who has ever been concerned about his or her future (which is to say, most of us) can probably relate to the lyrics of this song. What I find particularly uplifting about these lyrics is the emphasis on doing it your own way. Each individual has a life and each life is individual. Sure, a lot of us follow similar paths, but none of us take the same, exact path in life.
When it's hard to be positive and things seem as if they may never make sense, it's important to remember some of the key messages in "Overprotected": (1) you will, eventually, figure it out, (2) don't waste time worrying, and (3) the best way to do things is to do them your way. It is often very easy to get caught up in living your life the way you believe you are "supposed" to, but living your life any other way but the way you want to live it only brings about negativity. In addition, if you are not living for you, the way you want to, you will constantly be worried. You will be wondering if you are doing the "right" thing. When you are living as you want to be living, you are always doing the right thing. Others may disagree with your choices, but as long as you are happy with them, you will live a life filled with positivity.
Music and lyrics can have a profound affect on mood. When you're feeling down or experiencing a bout of negativity, listen to an uplifting, cheerful song and you will feel much better. I am constantly tempted to play music that suits my mood (sad songs for a gray, gloomy day when I'm feeling down; joyful songs for a sunny, summer day when I don't have a care in the world), but I've found that playing the music that reflects the mood you want to be in almost always brings you closer to that mood. Similar to the idea of acting how you want to feel, listening to music that depicts how you want to feel can be a great mood booster. And if you're at a loss for what to listen to? Consider Britney!
Hi!
Great minds think alike...check out this post I wrote last year and you will see what I mean: http://happylotus.com/2008/11/29/compassion-and-cheering-for-the-underdog/
I hope you had fun at the concert and thank you for the lyrics. Life is too short to waste worrying on things that you cannot change. Give each moment your best and the rest will take care of itself.
Posted by: Nadia - Happy Lotus | March 27, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Great minds DO think alike. Thanks for sharing the link!
Posted by: positively present | March 31, 2009 at 10:38 AM