Keira Johannson
October 25, 2020
Music for the Mind
In a world where feeling worried, anxious, and stressed has become the new social norm, it’s crucial to have an outlet to help you relax; something to clear your mind from all the outside noise. For many, this outlet is music.
We know that music plays a significant role in our lives. We listen to it everyday, and without us even knowing, it manages to creep its way into our brain, impacting our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Pianist and TED Talk speaker, James Rhodes, describes music as a language we don’t know but are all fluent in. He emphasizes that we need more music in the world, in order to create more connections, with others and our inner selves. In fact, music can teach you a lot about yourself and the world in which we live. It’s a form of storytelling, art, and self expression. When you listen to a song, focus on the lyrics. And, don’t just hear them but listen. What do you think the artist is trying to convey? Can the lyrics teach you something? How do they make you feel? These are the questions that many will ask when figuring out the type of music that they enjoy.
Try this: go somewhere that you can be alone and put a song on, any song, happy or sad. Blast the volume. Turn everything else in your life off for a minute and focus on the music. When the song is over, ask yourself: how do I feel?
Music and mood are heavily interconnected and it is scientifically proven that happy, and even sad music, can affect how you are feeling as well as boost happiness and reduce anxiety. Music releases a chemical in your brain called dopamine, which is known as the feel-good neurotransmitter. Therefore, naturally, when we listen to music, we are releasing dopamine and activating that happiness and serotonin feeling inside of us.
Musical taste is very personal. This has much to do with the fact that it is strongly connected with memory and emotion. This is why the most important music to listen to when you are feeling down is the music that works for YOU. In fact, many studies will emphasize the importance of a self-chosen music playlist. However, if you are still feeling stuck and need guidance, recommended genres to support relaxation include classical, soft pop, and overall slower pieces of music. Lyrical pieces can also give listeners a sense of clarity and acceptance, especially when one can relate to the artist’s words. Again, this is subjective. What works for you may not work for another. Experiment with different genres and when you find a song that speaks to you, add it to a playlist. Eventually, you will cultivate a collection of pieces that you can reach towards when you need it.
In the middle of March, when the pandemic made headlines worldwide, my anxiety was at all time high, as I’m sure it was for many others. I began to seek different forms of therapy through art, entertainment, and most importantly, music. Over the course of these past 8 months, music has changed my life. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of who I am on the inside. The music I listen to is simply a reflection of myself, like looking in the mirror and being able to see my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I’ve created a collection of music that I find comfort in. When I’m feeling sad, I know the exact playlist to put on to make me feel better. When I’m feeling happy, I have the perfect playlist ready to go so I can have a dance party in my bedroom. This is why I find it so important to incorporate music into your life. It’s a source of therapy, and it works. Take your time with it. Listen to music, share music, talk about music. Around the same time, I became interested in collecting vinyl. For me, it’s so fun to appreciate all the work that went into creating the record and having that physical copy. My collection has grown over the past few months and it’s something I have so much fun doing.
From the wise words of Macklemore, “Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heart strings. It acts as medicine.”
To conclude, here is the playlist that started it all for me:
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