Survivors’ Anthem Series #8: “Warrior” - Avril Lavigne
- Shannon Brown
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 23
The Anthem I Turn On When I Need to Believe in Myself Again
Healing isn’t a straight line.
Some days you feel proud of how far you’ve come.
And other days, even after all your growth, you can suddenly feel small again. Unsteady. Doubtful. Like you’re right back in the place where you had to fight just to make it through.
That’s why music has mattered so much in my life.
Because sometimes the strongest thing you can do is reach for something that reminds you who you are.
This is Survivors’ Anthem #8, and it’s a song I found later in life — but one that quickly became one of my most powerful “get up and keep going” anthems:
“Warrior” — Avril Lavigne
The Kind of Song That Flips a Switch Inside You
There are songs that calm you down.
“Warrior” is not one of those songs.
This one lights a fire.
This is the kind of song that makes you straighten your spine and lift your chin without even realizing it. It makes you want to breathe deeper. Move your body. Take up space.
It’s the song I listen to when I need to get pumped up, when I need to remember that I’m not fragile, I’m not broken, and I’m not done.
Because sometimes, even survivors forget their power.
And “Warrior” doesn’t let you forget for long.
Why “Warrior” Is a Survivor Anthem
What makes this song so powerful is that it isn’t pretending life doesn’t hurt.
It acknowledges the battle.
And then it says:
You survived it.
You’re still here.
You are stronger than you think.
Survivors know what it means to keep going, even when your body is tired. Even when your heart is heavy. Even when you don’t have a support system strong enough to carry what you’re carrying.
This song feels like it’s speaking directly to that part of you that has been fighting quietly for years.
The part of you that didn’t have anyone cheering you on.
The part of you that still showed up anyway.
That’s what “Warrior” honors.
When I Need Confidence, I Turn This On
One of the hardest parts of healing is not just processing the past, it’s building a future where you believe you deserve good things.
Believing you’re allowed to want more.
Believing you’re allowed to take up space.
Believing you’re allowed to feel proud, not just grateful to have survived.
And there are moments in life where doubt creeps in.
When old wounds whisper:
Who do you think you are?
You can’t do this.
You’re not strong enough.
You’re not worthy.
That’s when I turn on “Warrior.”
Because it doesn’t just give energy.
It gives identity.
It reminds me:
I didn’t just survive. I became someone powerful because I survived.
A Reminder I Needed Later in Life
I found this song later in life, and honestly, I think that’s what makes it even more meaningful.
Because when you’re a kid surviving trauma, you’re fighting to make it to tomorrow.
But when you’re older, sometimes the fight looks different.
The fight becomes:
believing in yourself
trusting your voice
honoring your boundaries
showing up for your dreams
standing tall even when fear tries to shrink you
That’s why this song is so important to me now.
It’s not only a survival anthem.
It’s a becoming anthem.
It’s the soundtrack to stepping into the person you always deserved to be.
A Thank You to Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne, thank you.
Thank you for creating a song that feels like strength in its purest form. Thank you for putting words and music to something survivors understand deeply, the way resilience lives inside us, even when we don’t feel it.
“Warrior” is more than a song.
It’s a reminder.
It’s a spark.
It’s a battle cry.
And for those of us still learning how to fully believe in ourselves…
that matters more than you know.
What’s Next in the Survivors’ Anthem Series
Each Survivors’ Anthem post will include:
a featured song
why it mattered to me
what it helped me survive or process
and a reel where I sing a short piece of it while honoring the artist behind it on my authors social media pages.
If you’re reading this and you’re in a season where you need to be reminded of your own strength…
Let this be your reminder too:
You are not weak.
You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are a warrior.
Listen to the Survivors' Anthem Playlist on Spotify and YouTube
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