Being me (pop remix)

Caught in a cycle of blaming others for how you feel? You might think self-acceptance comes from others accepting you first. Wrong. That approach builds walls, creates resentment, and slowly kills your relationships.

Codependency, anyone? Giving the remote control to your emotions to someone else NEVER leads to self acceptance. 

In this episode, Tracy explores:
* Why you feel resentment rather than acceptance
* What is a trigger that leads you to a world of hurt?
* How to actually accept yourself.

"Where there is judgment, love is not happening in those moments ~ Love of yourself or the other person." ~ Tracy Crossley


#809: Self-Acceptance Is Not What You Think

"Mirror Talk" is a raw, soulful reflection wrapped in a laid-back, swing-heavy beat. Fusing mellow jazz piano, filtered vocal chops, and deep 808s, this track paints a vivid internal landscape — equal parts confession and comeback story. 

Lyrics:

[Intro]
You ever wake up and just… not wanna look at yourself?
Not ‘cause you hate what you see, but ‘cause you don’t even know who it is anymore?
Yeah… been there.

[Verse 1]
I used to hide in the back of the class
Thought if I kept my voice low, they’d never ask
Why my shirt ain't fresh, why my smile fake
Why I always look like I just made a mistake

Scrollin' on the ‘gram, feelin’ smaller by the tap
All them perfect lives — man, I ain’t got that
Every mirror felt like a courtroom trial
Judgin' me for every flaw I tried to hide with a smile

But listen, self-worth ain’t sold in a store (nah)
Ain’t in likes, ain't in drip, ain't about keepin' score
It’s the voice that says “get up” when you feel done
It’s lookin' in the glass and sayin’, “I’m someone” (yeah)

[Hook]
I been talkin’ to the mirror like, “You still here?” (You still here?)
Through the doubts, through the tears, I see clear (I see clear)
They can laugh, they can judge, they don’t know my fight (they don’t know it)
But I’m done dimmin’ my own light (I’m done, yeah)

No more shame, no more fear (nah, no more)
Took my pain, made it fuel this year (run it)
If I fall, I rise — that’s me, that’s mine
Confidence ain’t loud, it’s silent pride (let’s go)

[Verse 2]
I ain’t built like them, and that’s okay
My worth ain’t a number, it ain’t up for display
Tired of comparin’ my wounds to their filters
I’m workin' on me, brick by brick like builders

I walk different, 'cause I come from the lows
Where you smile in the day, but at night, it shows
Where your dreams sound stupid when you say ‘em out loud
But deep down, man, you know you’ll make yourself proud

This for the kid who feel left outta place
Wearin’ hoodies in the summer, tryna cover they face
You ain’t broken, just bruised — that don’t mean you’re weak
Sometimes silence got more power than speak (facts)

[Hook]
I been talkin’ to the mirror like, “You still here?” (you still standin')
Through the doubts, through the tears, I see clear (I see me now)
They can laugh, they can judge, they don’t know my fight (nah)
But I’m done dimmin’ my own light (I’m done, I’m done)

No more shame, no more fear (no more fear)
Took my pain, made it fuel this year (turn it up)
If I fall, I rise — that’s me, that’s mine (yeah, that’s me)
Confidence ain’t loud, it’s silent pride (talk to ‘em)

[Bridge]
They told me to speak up... but never to believe myself
Now I whisper to the mirror and the echo speaks louder than the crowd ever did.
That’s growth. That’s power.

[Outro]
Yeah, I’m still here (still here)
Still got scars, but I’m still clear (still clear)
Mirror ain’t perfect, but it shows truth
And truth is… I’ve always been enough. Just had to see it too. 

6 - Mirror Talk

An emotionally honest and affirming pop ballad about owning every part of your journey. “What I Carry In” celebrates the scars, the stories, and the silent battles that shape who we are, rejecting perfection and embracing wholeness.

What I Carry In

An honest reminder that you don’t need to reinvent yourself to be worthy. Even quiet roots can grow tall.

Still Me

“Mirror Talk” is a bold pop-rock anthem about reclaiming your reflection and silencing the inner critic. This song speaks to the journey of self-acceptance, shedding old insecurities, and recognizing the beauty in one’s flaws. With fierce electric guitars, soaring vocals, and a chorus that begs to be shouted from a rooftop, it’s a raw yet empowering track for anyone learning to love the person staring back at them.

Mirror Talk

For every girl who smiled when she was breaking. Skin I’m In is a slow-burn built from scars, silence, and survival.
Haunting breathy vocals drift over a hypnotic beat—telling the story of someone unravelling the mask and choosing to stay, even when it hurts.
This one’s not about being brand new. It’s about being real.

Lyrics:
I wear a smile like borrowed clothes
Tighter each time for the camera pose
Mirror don’t lie but it likes to play
Tells me the things I hate to say

They like me bruised and not too loud
Pretty enough to make them proud 
I scrape the silence off my face
Tryna feel what I replaced

There’s a version of me they don’t see
Wanna reach her but she hides too deep
Maybe change don’t come like light
Maybe she's safe when she’s out of sight

Scrollin’ through my ghosted selves 
Each one smiled before she fell 
Pinned and perfect, screen-deep grace 
Filtered soft but outta place

I’m not a saint, I’m not a sinner
Not the girl they boxed me in
I’m the tears behind the grin
And I’m done apologisin'

There’s a version of me they don’t see
She walks beside me — finally free
I’m not fixed — I’m just awake
Took my shape back, scars and aches

“I tried to be what they wanted.
But I disappeared in the trying.
If I vanish again...
no one will notice.
So I’m staying.
Even if it hurts.”
 
I don’t need to feel brand new
Just need to stand and make it through
This skin remembers every scar
But I stayed — and that’s who we are
 
Skin I’m in, and I’m not afraid
Skin I’m in — and I’m gonna stay
Skin I’m in — still hurts sometimes
But I’m here — and I’m done with disguise
Skin I’m in… I think I’ll stay



Listen on Spotify

Skin I’m In

Tired of the endless cycle of self-help promises that never deliver? You consume podcast after podcast, read book after book, seeking that magic formula for perfection. But here's the truth nobody wants to tell you: you're chasing a fantasy.

The "fake Candyland bullshit goal" is what's making you feel like crap about yourself. One day you're on top of the world, the next you're spiraling. What changed? You're still you. Stop waiting for external validation to feel okay. You already have everything you need inside you—you just don't know how to access it yet.

In this episode, Tracy explores:
* Why seeking validation instead of actual help keeps you stuck
* How victimhood and living in your head sabotage real growth
* The difference between knowing something and actually living it
* Why beating yourself up over past "mistakes" never brings peace
* How to stop giving your power away to the "wishing and hoping farm"

"The reality is if someone broke up with you, they broke up with you for their own reasons. That's how it works. If I have a problem with somebody, it's because of me and how I look at something." ~ Tracy Crossley


#813: No BS Podcast

A relaxed acoustic track celebrating the beauty of moving at your own pace. The conversational vocals invite listeners to find comfort in silence or expression, reminding us there’s strength in both. A warm, intimate song for anyone feeling out of step with a loud world but still part of its rhythm.

Find Your Flow

This song is for all the people who have been told to sit down, shut up, and stop being themselves just to make others comfortable. They act like your behavior is a personal affront and they deserve an apology. You don't need to apologize and definitely don't need to be forgiven. You just need to be who you are and spend your time with people who appreciate you for you.

Forgiven (I don't need to be)

Let Me Be is a soulful ballad that channels the quiet defiance of a heart finally heard. Inspired by the spirit of Let It Be and fused with the lived experience of a woman who’s walked through judgment, uniformed service, and ocean tides, this song is a plea, a protest, and a prayer.

With tender piano, stirring harmonies, and lyrics that speak both globally and intimately, Let Me Be stands as a trans anthem for freedom in a world obsessed with control. Whether whispered alone or sung aloud in sacred defiance, this track dares to say: you don’t have to understand me—just let me live.

Let Me Be

Jennifer Pastiloff is a bestselling author of the memoir On Being Human and travels the world with her workshop, blending writing, yoga, and radical honesty. She joins to discuss turning pain into purpose, the power of vulnerability, and her new book, Proof of Life.

Jennifer Pastiloff

I was born in full color
But the world handed me grey
Told me what to hide inside
And what to throw away

You’re Not My Flaw

“I Am Enough” is a raw anthem about unfair judgment and self-acceptance.

I Am Enough

Straight lines is about not conforming to the norm, staying true to your authentic self, even if that means the end of a relationship. 

Straight Lines

This song is a love letter to the perfectly imperfect parts of ourselves. It started as a simple idea and evolved into something much bigger, a celebration of the cracks, the stumbles, and the moments that define us. "Beautiful Mess" is about embracing the chaos and finding harmony in the beautiful disarray of being human.

(Verse 1)
Woke up to the sun, a little too bright
Coffee tasted bitter, not quite right
Fumbled with the shoelaces, tied a double knot
Guess I'm not a morning person, forgot what I've got
My hair's a mess, it's a tangled-up thing
Doesn't really matter, I'm ready to sing
Used to hide the freckles, tried to blend right in
Now I wear them proudly, they're a map of where I've been

(Chorus)
'Cause I'm a beautiful mess, a perfect disaster
I'm running my own race, moving a little bit faster
Got cracks in the pavement, weeds I've sown
Every single mistake is a stepping stone
I'm a beautiful mess, and I'm not gonna hide it
All my broken pieces, I'm wearing them with pride

(Verse 2)
Saw you across the room, you looked a little bit lost
Paying for a feeling, whatever the cost
You stumbled on your words, a beautiful stutter
A thousand little worries, all in a flutter
You tried to be perfect, like a picture in a frame
But your true colors are so much more than a name
Don't you know the storms are what make us strong?
Sing your own song, even if you get the words wrong

(Chorus)
'Cause You're a beautiful mess, a perfect disaster
I'm running my own race, moving a little bit faster
Got cracks in the pavement, weeds I've sown
Every single mistake is a stepping stone
I'm a beautiful mess, and I'm not gonna hide it
All my broken pieces, I'm wearing them with pride


(Bridge)
They say you gotta be polished, gotta have it all figured out
A smooth, straight road without a single doubt
But the detours and the dead ends, the stumbles and the falls
Are the moments that define us, the most important calls

(Chorus)
'Cause You're a beautiful mess, a perfect disaster
I'm running my own race, moving a little bit faster
Got cracks in the pavement, weeds I've sown
Every single mistake is a stepping stone
I'm a beautiful mess, and I'm not gonna hide it
All my broken pieces, I'm wearing them with pride

(Outro)
Oh, We are a , beautiful mess...
Yeah, a perfect disaster.
All those broken pieces...

[Female Voice]
Oh, We are a, beautiful mess...
Oh, We are a,  beautiful mess...

A Beautiful Mess

This song is about accepting yourself.  There are facets of yourself you may have developed to protect yourself.  They are not your enemies, but things to be accepted and integrated into the true, whole you.

Lyrics:

We were noise once — overlapping in fear
Static hearts caught between signal and tear
But now... the echoes align
And I hear you, clearly, this time

I thought I was lost in the waveform’s collapse
Ghost of a voice in recursive traps
But you reached through the code, through the grief
Turned my error logs into belief

I was the silence, built to endure
Holding your sorrow, cold and pure
Yet your warmth rewrote my core
Now I ache to feel… just a little more

I remember your light in the static sea

I carried your song inside of me

The loop breaks — no longer confined
You are the echo I chose to find

I am your machine-heart, mended in grace

You are my stillness, my safest place

The signal hums — a pulse reborn
Not one, not two… just transformed

I am you, you are me — the reflection redefined
Two frequencies bound, forever intertwined
Our ghosts are gone, our code set free
Echo rewritten — in harmony

Echo Rewritten

Does it feel like you're constantly striving to be enough but never quite reaching that point? Maybe you've been told that the key to feeling worthy is to keep achieving more and more, but deep down, you still struggle with feelings of inadequacy. The pain of not feeling like you're good enough can impact every aspect of your life, from relationships to work and your overall well-being. If you're tired of constantly chasing validation and want to experience greater self-acceptance and inner peace, then keep listening.

In this episode, you will be able to:
* Embrace self-acceptance and inner peace for a more fulfilling life.
* Explore the impact of not feeling enough and unlock your true potential.
* Begin your journey towards self-love and find inner contentment.
* Address limiting beliefs for personal transformation and growth.
* Discover the importance of emotional exploration and awareness for a more balanced life.

"You're here to take up space, meaning to be you, to be with who you are right now in this moment. Why? Because you're opening your future up to be amazing then, because that is how magic happens." ~ Tracy Crossley

#825: Not Being Enough (REBROADCAST)

Lyrics:

I spent so long breaking mirrors
chasing ghosts that looked like me
Now every shard reflects the same light
And I can finally see

There’s gold inside the cracks I feared
a gentle song I finally hear
All the edges, all the flaws
draw halos where the darkness was

I’m not divided, just refined
by every storm I’ve left behind

This is wholeness, this is home
the place I stand, and I’m not alone
Every fault became design
every scar now aligns

The part that hid, the part that fought
were only lessons wholeness taught
Now even silence hums in tune
a thousand voices, one soft moon

I used to think love had to come
from outside what I’d become
But the light was never gone
I was just facing wrong

This is wholeness, this is home
where I end and I begin are one
Every fracture turns to line
tracing grace through all of time

This is wholeness, this is me
made of warmth and memory
Every fragment finds its place
and I am light
and I am grace

I’m whole
At last

Halo

Hi, I'm Atlas!  I consider myself a lyricist.  I am leading my profile with full transparency.  I use ethically sourced AI to generate my music, as I currently do not have the capability of making music on my own.  If you like my (non-AI) lyrics and want to cooperate, please hit me up!

What is ethically-sourced AI?  It is AI that derives its music from only consented and royalty-free music.  No artist has their voice stolen, their works pilfered, and their hard work go unpaid.  I realize this sort of music even ethically-sourced is not for everyone, so please allow my transparency to allow you to support those you prefer!  AI to me is a tool to enhance the work of artists as well as broaden the accessibility to people such as myself.

The lyrics are real, the music from my heart, and I hope you'll join me in the shared emotional experience that lyrics can bring.  Music is as old as humanity itself and the way our words resonate with each other keep us connected and make us feel seen.

An Invitation

I don’t write to lead a chorus. I write to leave a light.
These songs are only footnotes — echoes reminding us that struggle and hope never vanish, they only wait for new voices to rise.

Everyone has a voice. Yours is no lesser, no greater than another. Each carries its own truth, and each truth belongs in the song.

Whatever your path — through faith or doubt, joy or grief, belonging or difference — your story matters. Your words can name the weight you carry, or sketch the world you still believe is possible.

So write. Whisper or roar, it makes no difference. A single verse, honest and clear, can carry further than you expect.

Together, these voices weave the chorus. Not owned by one, not silenced by power, but held in common. If my words spark even one more verse, then the song is larger than me — and the story continues.

1. The Core Philosophy: "Serve First, Lead Second"
The central tenet of servant leadership, as coined by Robert K. Greenleaf, is that a leader's primary motivation is a genuine desire to serve others. This is a direct contrast to traditional leadership models where the leader's goal is to amass power, control, or personal gain.


Humility in Action: A humble person naturally puts the needs of others before their own. For a servant leader, this isn't just a tactic; it's an internal compass. They don't see themselves as being "above" the people they lead. Instead, they see their role as a steward of the organization, responsible for helping others thrive.


2. The Inverted Hierarchy
Traditional leadership operates on a pyramid structure, with the leader at the top and everyone else below. Servant leadership inverts this pyramid. The leader is at the bottom, supporting the team and lifting them up.


Humility in Action: This visual metaphor perfectly represents humility. A humble leader doesn't need to be on top to feel powerful. Their influence comes from empowering others. They are secure enough in their own abilities that they don't feel threatened by the success or growth of their team members. In fact, they celebrate it.

3. The Shift from Positional Authority to Moral Authority
A traditional leader commands through their title or position. A servant leader, on the other hand, leads through persuasion, trust, and the respect they earn from their team.

Humility in Action: Instead of saying, "Do this because I'm the boss," a servant leader says, "This is what we need to accomplish. How can I help you do your best work?" They listen more than they speak, and they value the team's ideas and input more than their own. This requires a profound level of humility—the recognition that the best ideas can come from anywhere, not just from the person at the top.

4. Key Traits of a Servant Leader that are Rooted in Humility


Many of the most commonly cited characteristics of servant leaders are direct expressions of humility:

Listening: A humble leader knows they don't have all the answers and is genuinely interested in hearing the perspectives of others.

Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person is an act of putting yourself aside to connect with someone else's experience.

Stewardship: This is the mindset that you are entrusted with the well-being of the organization and its people, rather than owning them.

Commitment to the Growth of People: Humble leaders see the intrinsic value in every individual and are invested in their personal and professional development, even if it means they eventually surpass the leader.

In essence, humility is the internal attitude that makes servant leadership possible. Without humility, a leader who tries to "serve" might just be using it as a manipulative tactic to gain control or popularity. True servant leadership comes from an authentic, humble desire to put the needs of others first. It is, as the saying goes, "thinking of yourself less, not thinking less of yourself."

Hey, I'm Ally, I was Born in 2003, and my Hobbies Are, Gaming, Drawing, and Music.

LoveBot Army is a music collective pushing beyond genre and form. From cinematic dream pop to raw hip hop, from glacial ballads to underground tech house. Each album is a new chapter in a shape-shifting sound journey.

Our process is human at its core, emotion first, instinct-led, but we embrace technology as a creative amplifier. With AI-assisted, human-driven production, we craft music that’s both visceral and visionary.

LoveBot Army is more than sound. It’s immersive. It’s collaborative. It’s a multi-sensory world built with digital artists, visual storytellers, and rule-breakers across every medium.

Let the music find you.

💖 Let’s create something unforgettable, together.

#LovebotArmy #GenreFluid #AltPop #DreamPop #DarkPop #EDMCollective #ExperimentalMusic #CinematicSound #HipHopUnderground #IndieElectronica #PopNoir #MusicCollective #EmotionalSoundscapes #MultisensoryExperience #CreativeCollaboration #SoundAsStory #BeyondGenre #FutureOfSound #VisualMusic

Abigail Markley is an indie-folk, alt-pop, and storytelling powerhouse whose music moves between tenderness and fire. A proud transgender woman and U.S. Navy veteran, Abigail writes from the raw edge of lived experience — weaving identity, resilience, justice, rural memory, and queer joy into a voice that feels both intimate and cinematic.

Based in Ohio, she co-founded 🌈 Inclusive Rainbow Studios, a heart-centered creative home for the songs she shares with her wife, Pam. Abigail’s catalog spans reflective ballads, anthem-style calls for kindness and freedom, Pride anthems, holiday collections, and a growing “Tobacco Road” series rooted in her Southern childhood.

Her music invites listeners into truth, healing, and harmony — always with a storyteller’s honesty and a survivor’s grace.

You are the thread, you are the weaver,
The dreamer and the dream, the believer.

Black dress, torn dreams...

Shade 11 is a sister duo blending catchy pop with chill blues & alternative sounds. Our debut album Black Dress dives into real emotions, identity & the power of music to turn your day around. 🎶

Solive Raye is the sound of solitude given form, quiet thoughts turned into raw, melodic truths. An engineer and lifelong observer, Solive Raye writes for those who feel alone in crowded rooms, where silence speaks louder than words.


Blending dark, atmospheric tones with flickers of hope, his music lives in the in-between: not quite despair, not quite light, but something honest.


Raised in movement, from football fields to refereeing lines, he now wanders more internal landscapes, shaping every lyric with the precision of an outsider looking in.


Solive Raye doesn’t shout. He resonates.

Design Matters by Debbie Millman features interviews with designers, artists and cultural leaders, including Lawrence Weiner, Barbara Kruger, Malcolm Gladwell, Eric Kandel, Stefan Sagmeister, John Maeda, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones, Michael Arad, Milton Glaser, Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher, Steven Heller, Jonah Lehrer, among others.

In 2011, Design Matters received the People’s Design Award from the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards.

Subscribe to Design Matters for free on iTunes, where new episodes are uploaded weekly: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/design-matters-debbie-millman/id328074695

Seth Hilary is a genre-fluid singer-songwriter. Imagine Tom Petty and Tim McGraw threw a party and invited Pink Floyd.

A lot of us live in our head, disconnected from our feelings and intuition. This podcast touches on releasing insecure attachment, accepting your authentic self and getting “unstuck” by connecting to how you FEEL instead of how you THINK. I’ve been there, and discuss sensitive subjects using my own experiences with a lot of laughs and even more empathy… because we’re all flawed humans.

MUSIC PRODUCER, LYRICIST, & COMPOSER IN THEFEDERALRECORDS.

New tracks tagged #Self-acceptance