Time spent over the last ten days at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival inspired and renewed me. For the jazzfest faithful, the event is a spiritual cleansing and creative catalyst.

Music.Is.Powerful.

Are you in a re-invention phase? Or, I guess the better question would be Who’s NOT re-inventing right now? Crazy how change is the constant.

You can harness the inspirational power of music to support and fuel transition. First, stop listening to anything that reminds you of your old situation – what you are leaving behind. Next, start listening to something different. Does not have to be new music, just new to you. Below is a list of great songs about change. Make a change playlist and listen to it a lot.

And, don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…

• A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
• Roll the Bones – RUSH
• Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
• I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
• The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
• Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
• Uprising – Muse
• Sing the Changes – The Fireman
• Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
• I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
• Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
• Above the Bones – Mishka
• Brand New Day – Sting
• Cool Change – Little River Band
• Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) – George Harrison
• Dog Days are Over – Florence + Machine
• Changes – David Bowie
• Hold On – Wilson Phillips
• Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie
• Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
• Already Gone – Sugarland
• You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
• Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash
• You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Lisa Marie Presley
• Changes IV – Cat Stevens

For a wonderful, thought-provoking music-reinvention analogy, check out Christopher Bowe’s recent blog post for HBR.

FInally, please share your favorite songs of change here.