Music can be transcendental.

It can reveal feelings we weren’t aware existed.

It can bring back a nostalgic memory that was once forgotten, commence the bold beginning of a new day, or be the catalyst that brings healing and closure from our past.

Music can also inspire connection or enliven our spirituality. It can find the words of forgiveness that missed our lips, stir up the courage to make a change, or it can simply make us feel less alone.

While art is an avenue to explore and express the intricacies of our human experiences, we must be mindful of what we consume. And, like anything misused, it has the power to destroy.

Sometimes that song that has a great beat is also the song filled with ego-boosting vulgarity that merely justifies bad behavior and echoes our human insecurities.

It’s a thought that has given me pause for many years, especially as it pertains to music during exercise. I started to think about the impact of popular music, not only in terms of common consumption, but also how it affects my mind and body during and after exercise.

You can find a million workout playlists in almost any genre, and they are usually upbeat tunes that help us to train harder and alleviate some of the pain endured while exercising. When we bring mindfulness into the exercise space, we are aware of our bodies and the gift of exercise—and not merely stuck counting the seconds before the anguish is done.

In my own experience, I have tried to perfect a music formula to enhance my cardiovascular exercise routines. I have created many playlists over the years, but I was never completely satisfied; they were either too femme fatale or too corny and cliché.

I wanted my workouts to match the inner work I had put in over the years and to feed my mind, body, and spirit in a burst of feminine celebration. That meant I would need to actively avoid Cardi or Nicki to get me through my next 5k.

I went on a mission for something else. Something I could listen to that was empowering without the negativity—energizing, but not ego-inflating.

I wanted more. I needed something that would inspire me to be a better person, a better woman. I needed a playlist that would help me to uncover the glowing beauty within.

Feminine energy is soft, empathetic, nurturing, and compassionate. As women, we are creators. We have the power within us to birth newness, inspiration, vitality, and change. It is our duty to embrace and honor these facets of our femininity, and that includes the music we choose to listen to. We need music that makes us powerful yet vulnerable, fierce and healing.

If you’re old enough to remember mixtapes, you’ll know that they are an expression of love. You would make a mixtape for your beloved, spending hours curating the perfect combination of sentiments.

Well, this is my mixtape for you, goddesses. A blend of genres and positive lyrics to help you connect to your feminine power—poised, beautiful, full of love.

I invite you to listen during your next workout and watch the transformation unfold.

The Goddess Playlist

1. “Unbreakable Smile” by Tori Kelly
2. “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
3. “Ay Yo” by Melanie Fiona
4. “The Greatest” by Sia
5. “Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys
6. “Titanium ft. Sia” by David Guetta
7. “Weightless” by Natasha Bedingfield
8. “Work That” by Mary J. Blige
9. “Wait Til You See My Smile” by Alicia Keys
10. “Blessed” by Jill Scott
11. “Video” by India Arie
12. “I Am Woman” by Jordin Sparks
13. “The Champion ft. Ludacris” by Carrie Underwood
14. “Ready Or Not ft. Lecrae” by Britt Nicole