Music is a wonderful thing, it can transport us to different points in time, it can help us out of a bad mood, it can even drive away evil spirits.
Studies have shown that elderly people struggling with dementia and Alzheimer's have better cognitive recall when they hear a song they're familiar with from their past. More powerful than drugs, it's like a light turns on and they come back to themselves, it's amazing!
I didn't used to believe music had such great powers until I noticed some of it at work in my own life.
It was the summer I had graduated high school, on top of life changes and trying to figure out my future, I had also lost my best friend since middle school. Things were pretty dark, I was very angry and also very, very sad and depressed. I listened to music that matched my mood. When I listened to a certain band's album, I noticed a darkness and a heaviness pulling me down, even lower than before.
Taking me to a place I knew I did not want to go.
I took notice at what I was listening to and the thoughts that it inspired. This music on this album was more centered around mental illness, a lot of depression, addiction, anxiety, anger, more depression... Yeah, I got it and stopped listening to that music.
That decision played a very helpful role in the healing process.
Music moves us in powerful ways. It's a powerful tool to enhance our wellbeing, it can lower our stress levels, increase cognitive performance, and even reduce the perception of physical pain.
Different types of music invites different types of feelings. Let's take a look at the more positive effects.
When I want to wake up, I like to play what I call "coffee music", some good head-bangers like rock ballads with a more positive message. Yes, I listened to heavy death metal for years and I still like the sound of grungy guitars and to shout it out every once in a while. It can help me wake up, get pumped for the day or let off some steam. I have found some bands that have the sound but instead of having lyrics that focus on more positive things, that offer more of an uplift instead of weighing me down.
When I need a "pick me up", I listen to more upbeat and positive music which different genres in pop offers. Or I'll play some classic rock going back as far as the 1960's, or even further back if I'm looking for some nostalgia. This is great for cooking, dancing and singing in the kitchen (the littles love it), driving home from work, or having a little dance party in the living room.
When working on art, wanting to wind down, or having a deep conversation with a friend and I want to focus on what we're talking about, I like instrumental music of various genres. When I'm having trouble sleeping, I love harp music. When I want to focus, I tend to play different types of lo-fi, sometimes it's tropical, calypso inspired, sometimes it's from vintage video games (Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3 and Sonic and Knuckles for example).
People have known of the benefits of different types of music for generations, it's even documented in the Bible accounts of evil spirits being driven away by music. What great and powerful benefits we have in the audible arts!
I like to have a playlist ready to go for whatever mood I'm going for. Feel free to go see what I have on Spotify and pa-rooze my audible collections.
My grandpa used to "feel the beat" and start dancing, that is a trait that has been passed down and sometimes when you hear music you just have to dance.
Music and dance go hand in hand, pairing these brings on more benefits that we can enjoy. Not only is it a good workout, dancing also released endorphins and dopamine. This gives a quick boost to our mood. We can "shake it off", lowering cortisol levels and get rid of stress.
Take this as a sign that you should dance more, don't miss out on the fun! It doesn't matter if you're a great dancer. The benefits are the same regardless of your level of experience. Just bust a move!
Of course, singing along with music is great too.
Sometimes when I'm nervous, especially when I'm driving, I like to listen to music and sing along.
Anxiety makes us breathe more shallow, this feeds into a feedback loop of stress or panic. Singing makes us regulate our breath and distracts our mind from thoughts that feed into anxiety and stress, interrupting that loop and helping us to break out of "fight or flight" mode.
Both singing and humming stimulate the vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve. It begins in the brainstem and branches down the neck and chest, spreading to almost every organ in the abdomen. It acts as the main driver of the parasympathetic nervous system, the main driver behind involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.
So, in this we can see how anxiety can be a cause behind digestive, heart and blood pressure issues. Isn't that something?
In singing or humming, we can shut off that stress response and ease our bodies. Supporting better health in different areas in our bodies as well as our emotional wellbeing! So feel free to belt it out, make a joyful noise, or at least hum. It's a healthy way for one to free themself from anxiety!
What awesome power music possesses!
So many great ways it affects our moods, our health and really, our lives overall. So much fun to be had when we sing, dance or just listen. Crank it up, play and enjoy this wonderful genre of the performing arts!