Sounds ridiculous but when starting out just focus on lifting your upper leg. The rest of the muscle chain will focus on stability intuitively. Once you archive the effortlessness while running you can think about other ways to improve form (like keeping your hip under your upper body). Also don’t stretch before running. Instead start by walking and maybe at traffic lights simply use the full motion range of your joints.
I wouldn’t recommend music. It could imply a bad pace, breathing and/or focus. Listening to the world is one of the benefits of running imo.
Also: Intention. Each run of mine goes to a landmark of choice. Once there I go with the flow and enjoy nature, think about x or start pushing my pace.
Last point of return is if my body comes to peak, then I reroute back accordingly.