Sara Bareilles: How to Remember Yourself (Best Of)
Dec 26, 2024
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Sara Bareilles, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and actress, shares her profound journey through music, self-discovery, and mental health. She and Glennon explore the invaluable joys of solitude and the heavy-hearted moments that shape resilience. Sara discusses her experiences with anxiety and depression, revealing how unexpressed needs often fuel her struggles. The conversation celebrates the transformative power of creativity and connecting with one’s inner child, emphasizing the importance of self-care and authentic relationships in overcoming life’s challenges.
Sara Bareilles emphasizes the vital role of art and music as therapeutic outlets for processing emotions and uncertainties in life.
The conversation highlights the importance of acknowledging vulnerability and the inevitability of change as catalysts for personal growth and connection.
Deep dives
The Impact of Influence
Sarah Bareilles is celebrated for her significant contributions to the LGBTQ community through her music, particularly songs like 'Brave' and 'I Choose You.' These tracks served as anthems of acceptance and celebration during challenging times before marriage equality was achieved. The heartfelt discussion emphasizes how Bareilles' work not only normalized but also celebrated LGBTQ identities, offering solace and representation to many who felt marginalized. The emotional connection her songs fostered demonstrates the power of art in influencing societal attitudes and personal experiences of love and acceptance.
Navigating Vulnerability
The conversation delves into the complexities of vulnerability and the fears that often accompany it. Bareilles shares her reluctance to ask for help, attributing it to a fear of appearing weak or unknowing, which resonates with many who struggle with social anxiety and the fear of feeling foolish. This struggle is compounded by the pressure to maintain a facade of competence while grappling with internal chaos. The dialogue underscores the importance of recognizing and validating one’s discomfort, allowing for genuine connections with others while navigating through personal challenges.
The Role of Change in Growth
Change is framed as both an inevitable part of life and a source of growth, illustrating how it intertwines with the need for help and support. Bareilles discusses her relationship with change and how it has been crucial for her personal development, especially during times of uncertainty. Acknowledging the fluidity of life, she speaks about leaning into change rather than resisting it, highlighting how this mindset can foster resilience. The acceptance of change as a catalyst for growth encourages listeners to navigate their own transformations and uncertainties with openness.
Creativity Amidst Chaos
Art emerges as a vital mechanism for processing chaos and uncertainty in life, according to Bareilles. She describes how music allows her to encapsulate her experiences and emotions, acting as a therapeutic outlet when faced with overwhelming feelings. During the pandemic, she struggled to create, feeling silenced by the enormity of collective trauma, yet sought solace in the artistic process as a means to make sense of it all. This reflects a broader theme of how creative expression serves as a tool for connection, healing, and understanding during tumultuous times.
1. Abby shares with Sara the great personal impact Sara’s music has made on her life.
2. Sara and Glennon bond over the joy of solitude, the underrated gifts of being heavy-hearted, and the fact that “there are too many things to be worried about at all times” to be lighthearted.
3. When you are in deep stress, do you try to sabotage your job, relationship, etc.? (Before this conversation, Amanda thought it was just her.)
4. How playfulness and joy – connecting to the little kid who grew up into you – are vital to loving yourself.
5. Sara’s beautiful journey with medication for depression and anxiety – and how she learned her anxiety often arises from an unexpressed need.
About Sara:
Sara Bareilles is a Tony Award and Emmy Award nominated actor, and Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter.
On Broadway, Sara composed music and lyrics for Waitress, in which she was also the lead. Sara also produced original music and executive produced the musical drama series Little Voice. She plays Dawn Solano on the Emmy-nominated musical comedy series Girls5eva, and stars as The Baker’s Wife in the Broadway revival Into the Woods.