There’s a current commercial on TV that has the song in the background, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Cass Elliot which says:

“Nobody can tell ya
There’s only one song worth singing
They may try and sell ya
‘Cause it hangs them up
To see someone like you . . .
You’re gonna be nowhere
The loneliest kind of lonely
It may be rough going
Just to do your thing’s the hardest thing to do
But you gotta make your own kind of music
Sing your own special song
Make your own kind of music
Even if nobody else sings along . . .”

This got me to think about society and conformity. We rush around trying to fit ourselves into other’s boxes. The more we try to squeeze ourselves in to fit their molds, the more unhappy we become. We tell ourselves we Should fit in, we Should do it their way, They know best!

What if They don’t know what is best for us?
What if they are just projecting their values and beliefs onto us?
How do we go about making our own kind of music?
How do we sing our own special song?

I think the best way to sing our own special songs is to check in with ourselves.

1. Are you happy?
2. Are you crying at the drop of a hat?
3. Is your body holding tension anywhere?
4. Does your stomach feel like it’s in knots?
5. Do you get angry, blame others, or allow fear to stop you from . . .?
6. Are you binge eating?
7. Are you spending more time than you should watching TV or reading books?
8. Have you let exercising go?
9. Are you sleeping less than seven hours a day or more than nine?
10. Are you avoiding tasks that need to be done?

These may be signs of depression, or they may signify that you’re not on the right track.

In order to sing your own special unique tune, you need to follow your own heart. If you get your sleep, food plan, and exercising back into alignment, and you’re still mentally or emotionally off track, then you may need to see a mental health provider and/or check in about your feelings regarding your relationships, career, or spiritual fulfillment.

We’re not put on this planet to work 9 to 5! We’re not here to make someone else happy! We’re here to love, pass our talents and gifts forward, be at peace, and live in joy—meaning singing our own special song.

Note the word “special.” OUR song! Not your bosses! Not your parents! Not your spouse’s! YOUR OWN SPECIAL SONG!

I challenge you today to check in with yourself. Are you walking with a bounce in your step and humming your own song? If not, you can change your score! Your sheet music is only a template for your life and how you choose to play it! You can be the person you were born to be! You can be the soloist in the world’s humanity orchestra! I challenge you to pick up your baton, to see your vision, to listen to your inner voice, to speak your truth, to reach out to others, to follow your heart, to walk boldly forward, and to make your own kind of music. In these ways, you’ll change the way you see and you’ll change the way you live!