Writing a song isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you want to write one that evokes positive feelings from others. Picking a subject you’re passionate about and writing from the heart is the first step, but there are also other ways to inspire the people who listen to your music.

Even if a particular genre of music doesn’t appeal to you for your own songwriting, there are still some undeniable lessons you can glean from any popular inspirational song. While it’s always great to read over songwriting tips from the hitmakers, sometimes it’s just as productive to look at the work itself. Here are five examples of successful inspirational songs and the lessons you can use from each case.

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Michael Jackson: Heal the World

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This song, released in 1991, is from Jackson’s hit album “Dangerous.” It’s one of the few music videos Michael Jackson had that didn’t feature himself. Instead, the video focuses on children who live in turbulent countries around the world. In a 2001 online chat with friends and fans, Jackson admitted that he felt more proud about creating “Heal the World” than any other record. Additionally, he created the Heal the World Foundation, which helps improve the lives of children and teaches them to help others.

What makes this song so inspirational is Jackson’s ability to connect with a wide audience naturally involving an issue that anyone can think about and relate to. While the King of Pop uses his celebrity to shine the spotlight on the needs of those less fortunate, it’s his thought-provoking lyrics and smooth vocals that encourages listeners to make the world a better place by taking care of its citizens and resources.

Journey: Don’t Stop Believin’

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“Don’t Stop Believin'” made its début in 1981, and since then the song has been featured in movies, on TV shows, and at sporting events. With more than 5 million digital copies sold, it’s the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history — and for good reason.

Unlike “Heal the World,” which makes you reflect, this song pumps you up because of its energy. What makes this song so inspirational is Jonathan Cain’s powerful piano play and Steve Perry’s riveting vocals.

John Lennon: Imagine

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English musician John Lennon wrote and performed “Imagine” in 1971, encouraging listeners to imagine a world at peace. The song’s lyrics examine the barriers that borders, religion, and nationality create among people and focus on humanity detaching itself from material possessions. Like Jackson’s “Heal the World,” this song’s purpose is to provoke thought and inspire a call to action.

It’s said that Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono inspired him to write the song through a series of poems she wrote for her 1964 book, “Grapefruit.” Rolling Stone Magazine described “Imagine” as Lennon’s “greatest musical gift to the world.” Although Lennon’s lyrics play an important part in the song’s structure, the tranquil melody, billowy chord progression, and the four-note piano piece are what make it resonate with listeners.

Aretha Franklin: A Natural Woman

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Two of the aforementioned songs are deep and thought-provoking, while the other two make you feel like anything is physically possible. While all four are inspiring in their own way, none of them targets a specific audience and inspires it like Aretha Franklin. Franklin released “A Natural Women” in 1967, and has inspired women ever since through diligent songwriting and a powerful voice.

Whether it’s an empowering song by a gospel singer like Aretha Franklin or something you’d hear as part of a service by Pastor Ed Young, the transcendent messages of spiritually motivated songwriters appeal to the listeners’ deeper aspirations and is what inspires them. If you choose to write a song like this, think about the audience you’d like to reach and the message you’d like them to connect to.

Bill Conti: Gonna Fly Now

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Unlike Lennon’s “Imagine,” where you’ll most likely want to sit back and reflect, Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” makes you want to jump out of your chair and go running outside – just like Rocky. Yes, that’s right, this hit is best known for being the theme song to the movie “Rocky” and has always been associated with a triumphant and motivating moment in the film.

Whether it’s because of its association with the movie or the exhilarating orchestral elements, this song gets the blood pumping. Since its release in 1977, the song has become a part of American pop culture and solidified itself as one of the most inspirational songs of all time.

Whether it’s through thoughts or feelings, a song that’s well-written, structurally sound, and powerfully performed will capture the audience’s attention and inspire them. When you’re searching for a way to do that, think about the important issues you like to write about, the people you want to hear your music, and the overall message you hope to spread in the process.