Have you ever seen or heard of the slogan “Music Saves”? What if this is true?
As a music lover, I proudly have a bunch of curated playlists on my iPhone. I have different playlists for different events like when I’m exercising, when I’m writing, and when I’m driving. I even have a playlist for rainy days.
I know several people who do the same thing whether it’s on their smartphones or platforms like Spotify. I would even go further and say there’s not a single person on earth who doesn’t like music and there is a reason why.
Research shows that when a person listens to music, both hemispheres of the brain activate and process different sound patterns making you more present at the moment. As the music continues (especially when it’s your favorite song), the brain also releases dopamine which is considered a natural antidepressant.
Another great thing about music is it can help change your mood. Bob Proctor, world-renowned self-help author, and lecturer often praised the power of music. In the monumental film The Secret, Proctor once said “Do you know you can change your mood like that if you turn on a piece of music?”. He was fully aware of how music can change your attitude easily and quickly.
So if music can help alter your mood…can music be the cure for mental illness?
According to research, music can play a huge part in improving a person’s overall health and well-being. In a study done in Australia of 1000 participants, individuals who surrounded themselves with music whether it was playing an instrument, singing, dancing, or even going to concerts, reported greater well-being. People who make intentional time to listen to music that makes them feel great to have a better chance of changing their outlook on life.
Music can also change your cortisol level, which is commonly known as the stress hormone.
Studies show that symphonic music can lower cortisol levels, regardless of the listener’s music preferences. As science continues to explore the power of music and the mind, we can see the results in our day-to-day life.
How many times have you heard a song on the radio that you haven’t heard in a long time and just start to sing?
Music and songs not only carry stories that we can relate to, but they can also create memories of our personal life. Songs can “hit a chord” in our hearts and transport us back to our history. Songs can teleport us to a time filled with monumental memory like prom, your wedding day, or even saying goodbye to a loved one.
Music can create such an enormous impact on mental health that there is a profession called Music Therapy, which is a specified health profession that uses evidence-based research on how music in therapy programs. Music is the closest thing we have to magic, as it could alter our lives in minutes!
This is why it’s so important to use music to your advantage.
Try this: every time you feel sad, mad, angry, or even lonely, put some music on. Whether it’s through your headphones, in the car, or even while you’re cooking and see how your energy starts to shift! Once you’ve seen the amazing effects of music, you will never look back.
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Til next time loves,
Photo by Jamakassi on Unsplash