“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” — Viktor Frankl
Emma G - Vocal and Songwriting Coach, TEDx Speaker, Mentor
Helping high achieving teens and professionals find their voice through music and mindset coaching | Elite vocal and songwriting coach | TEDx Speaker | Musician
Happy Monday, friends!
Ever feel like your brain is juggling a thousand open tabs?
One moment, you’re tackling emails, the next, you’re stressing about a deadline, a relationship, or just… life. Before you know it, you’re spiraling into overwhelm, wondering where to even begin.
But, uh, here's what I've come to realize: overwhelm thrives on complexity. Clarity comes from simplicity.
But guess what? That’s exactly why songwriting is so powerful.
Great songs don’t try to say everything at once. They focus on one message, one theme, one emotion at a time. [You have an entire album to explore the other topics].
But seriously. That’s how we process, untangle, and eventually overcome what’s weighing us down.
A few weeks ago, I sat down with one of my clients — a powerhouse of a young woman who, despite her brilliance, battles daily with anxiety, overwhelm, and the pressure to meet everyone else’s expectations.
She’s sharp, talented, and deeply intuitive, yet the weight of perfectionism and the fear of disappointing others often hold her back. Instead of feeling seen for her potential, she feels trapped in a cycle of external demands and internal doubt.
So, we did what I always do. We wrote.
At first, her thoughts were scattered — fragments of frustration, fear, and exhaustion. But as she kept writing, something clicked. Her words became structured, her emotions found rhythm, and her voice — her real voice — took shape.
The result? A song that hit like a gut punch.
Some of the lyrics she wrote:
“I’ll avoid you for so long / Until I’m ready to say out loud I’ll lower your expectations / Till I can figure it out”
“It’s not always about you / You’re dependent on me by choice I’m trying to grow on my own / I want to find my own voice”
This wasn’t just a song. This was an announcement. A realization that she no longer had to shrink herself to meet other people’s expectations. That she was allowed to take up space, set boundaries, and grow at her own pace.
And the moment she sang it out loud, her entire energy shifted. She wasn’t just processing her emotions — she was reclaiming them. She wasn’t just writing lyrics — she was stepping into her power [hey, I wrote a song about that].
That’s the beauty of songwriting. It takes the chaos in your head and turns it into something real, tangible, and healing.
And the best part? You don’t have to have all the answers before you begin. You just have to start. One word, one line, one song at a time.
How You Can Use Songwriting to Find Clarity
You don’t have to be a musician to use songwriting as a tool for stress relief and personal growth. Try this:
Identify what’s weighing on you. What’s one thing that’s been looping in your mind lately? Write it down. No filtering, no overthinking.
Simplify it. If your emotions were a song, what would the chorus be? What’s the one core message you’d want to say? What would you want to tell that emotion if it were a person?
Express it. Turn it into a few simple lines or even just one sentence. Speak it, sing it, or just read it aloud. Let it land.
If this sounds like something you (or a teenager in your life) could benefit from, I’d love to help. I’ve just opened three new coaching spots—hit reply to grab one before they fill up.
Big Announcements
GRIEVE IS OUT NOW! My latest song, Grieve, has officially dropped on all streaming platforms, complete with a 90s-esque music video (shoutout to David Wardrick for making it look amazing).
Watch the music video now Stream Grieve on Spotify & Apple Music
If you resonate with it, I'd be honored if you dropped a comment on YouTube, streamed it on repeat, shared it, and tagged a friend who needs to hear it.
There's no shame in grief... but the more we suppress; the more likely we are to start to wallow. And that is never a good space to be in. By allowing ourselves to recognize the emotions, take the time to understand them, express and move through them: we can start to forgive, let go, and use it as fuel rather than a weight. I experienced this firsthand when I wrote Proud [about my father's passing] and it's the exact same with this song.
Check it out:
Hitting the Road for Two Major Keynotes
After an insanely beautiful couple of shows at CUT by Wolfgang Puck this past weekend, I'm excited to be heading out of town to do my other love: combining music and speaking.
This week, I’m presenting at: - Reston, VA – “Creativity, Teamwork & Leading into Your Why” (feat. a songwriting workshop + competition) for a corporate group. - Raleigh, NC – “Leadership, Resilience & Using Your Voice for Impact” for a youth conference.
These events blend music, leadership, and storytelling — my favorite things. Can’t wait to help these groups turn their voices into something powerful.
Three New Coaching Spots Just Opened!
Looking for vocal coaching, songwriting mentorship, or leadership through music? I’ve got space for three new clients. Sign up this week and get an advanced e-copy of my upcoming book: Mental Health Sounds Like This. Click here to book a call.
And I'm Still Collecting Stories for My Worthiness Project Jonna Michelle, Jarreau Williams, and I are working on something special for the autumn. If you have a personal story about stepping into your worth, I’d love to hear from you. Email me back or DM me to be part of this project.
Final Thought: Your Voice Deserves to Be Heard Whether you turn your emotions into a song, a melody, or simply speak your truth—never forget that you are more powerful than your pain.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Start with one line, one lyric, one thought at a time. That’s how clarity begins. That’s how confidence grows. That’s how we reclaim our stories.
Let’s make something powerful together.
Have an amazing day on purpose
Emma G