The Life-Changing Power of a Personal Anthem
(or: why your inner playlist might be your secret weapon)
If you knew me in real life, there’s every chance I would’ve talked to you about darts at some point.
Not because I’m a big fan, mind you. I just find it fascinating how much it’s changed since I was a kid.
I was born in 1975, which means my earliest darts memories are from the mid-80s—when it was still very much a working man’s pub game. The players were heavy drinkers, often smokers, and not exactly what you’d call athletic.
Fast forward forty-odd years, and darts has undergone a total glow-up. Now it’s big business—huge crowds, major sponsorship deals, and literal fireworks. It’s morphed into something dynamic and theatrical, with players entering the stage to music, just like wrestlers or boxers.
Which got me thinking:
What if we had our own walk-on songs?
No, I’m not suggesting you blast a power ballad every time you walk into a meeting (tempting though it is). But what if you had a song—just one—that grounded you, lifted you, reminded you of who you really are?
🎵 Enter the Theme Tune
A few years ago, I went through a messy breakup. My song of choice back then? Fuck You by Lily Allen. Every morning before working from home. Cathartic. Not exactly subtle, but wildly effective.
Lately though, I’ve been thinking less about romantic love and more about love in a broader sense—love for people, for humanity. That probably sounds a bit lofty, but stick with me.
I’ve been reading Thomas Campbell’s My Big TOE trilogy, and there’s one line that’s stuck with me:
“Fear is self. Love is others.”
He argues that when we live from fear—when we’re anxious, defensive, or ego-driven—we’re focused inward. But when we act from love, we’re focused on giving, on connection, on evolving.
That hit me. Hard.
So I started to explore: what would it look like to live more from love than fear? One of the (surprisingly effective) ways I’ve been reinforcing that is with music.
🚗 A Little Roadtrip Revelation
Yesterday, driving from Manchester to Leeds, I hit the apex of the M62—just past the iconic farm-in-the-middle-of-the-motorway (IYKYK). A Placebo song popped into my head: Loud Like Love.
I hadn’t heard it in ages. But I played it right there on the road, and suddenly everything clicked.
Can you imagine a love that is so proud?
It never has to question why or how…
We are loud like love.
That moment, with the Pennines sprawling around me and the music surging through the car, felt like a reset. A reminder. A return to what matters.
🛠️ Another Tool in the Toolbox
Since then, I’ve adopted Loud Like Love as my theme tune. I play it before work or whenever fear or resistance creeps in—those “what if this doesn’t work?” moments we all have when we’re building something meaningful.
Is it a magic fix? Of course not. But it’s powerful. And it works. Not all the time, but often enough.
I’m still that curious, analytical, slightly tattooed ex-engineer who loves systems and structure—but I’m also someone who’s learning that softness, music, and love are powerful forms of resistance, too.
So here’s a small challenge:
Find your theme tune.
Find a song that reminds you of who you are, what you stand for, or where you want to go. Something to anchor you, empower you, reset you.
Spotify’s free. Your headphones are probably within reach. What have you got to lose?
💬 Want Support Living from Your Theme?
If you’re figuring out who you are, what matters, or how to build a life that actually feels like yours—I can help.
This is the kind of deep, grounded work I do in my one-to-one coaching sessions.
If you’re curious about working together, just send me a DM or reach out here.
💌 P.S.
What’s your theme tune? Hit reply and let me know—I’m building a playlist. 🎧