Hello and welcome,
And today's word is music.
Think about a song that instantly lifts your mood,
Or a melody that brings back a flood of memories.
Music has a way of moving us,
Healing us,
And connecting us to something deeper.
Music is an energy,
And music really isn't just about entertainment,
It's a universal language that really does transcend cultures,
Emotions,
And even time.
It's been used for celebration,
Storytelling,
Spiritual connection,
And even therapy.
And science has shown that music affects brain function,
Emotional well-being,
And physical health.
So imagine how different your life would be without music.
How often do you intentionally use music to uplift,
Inspire,
Or energise yourself?
Or perhaps you're one of those people that when you feel down,
You put music on that makes you feel even more down.
And is that the wisest thing to do?
And if it is the wisest thing to do,
Because you want to feel that emotion of sadness,
Which is absolutely fine,
But do you perhaps stay in that mood longer than you might need to,
Or actually might be good for you?
So when we look at music across history,
It's quite interesting to look at some of the composers that we have.
Ludwig van Beethoven,
For example,
Despite losing his hearing in his late 20s,
Beethoven composed some of the world's most famous symphonies.
His story is a testament to the fact that passion and perseverance can triumph over adversity.
He didn't just hear music,
He felt it,
And therein lies that nice connection with energy.
Bob Marley,
More than just a musician,
Marley used reggae music to really spread messages of peace,
Unity,
And resistance.
His lyrics became anthems for social change,
Proving that music has the power to influence the world.
And Aretha Franklin,
Known as the Queen of Soul,
Her music wasn't just about entertainment,
It was about empowerment.
Her hit song,
Respect,
Became an anthem for both the civil rights and women's rights movements.
And if any of you have ever been to a sound therapy session,
You'll know that just listening to the vibrations of a gong can send shivers through your body,
Can really clear out energy blocks and leave you feeling absolutely incredible.
So music's a powerful tool when it comes to living our best life,
And I ask you to consciously choose the music that you're going to listen to,
And be mindful and selective about when you go into music that makes you feel melancholic or sad,
And really take a concerted choice to bring music into your life that makes you feel the way you'd like to feel,
Rather than having to feel the way a song makes you feel.
Now some interesting facts about music.
Music activates multiple parts of the brain,
Which improves memory,
Mood and even physical healing.
Isn't that fascinating?
And listening to music releases dopamine,
The same chemical associated with happiness and pleasure.
And did you know that playing an instrument can actually increase IQ and strengthen problem-solving skills?
And I'd vouch to say that maybe it even improves our emotional intelligence.
So what three things am I suggesting for you today?
Number one,
Why don't you curate a playlist for your mood?
Whether you need motivation,
Relaxation or creativity,
Create playlists that help shift your energy.
And because my focus is always on living your best life,
Why not have a playlist for that?
What songs really resonate with you?
That level of enjoyment,
Beauty,
Connection,
Freedom?
Get some songs together that you can play perhaps even daily as a form of meditation even or dancing around the home.
Number two,
Sing or dance without caring who is watching.
Music isn't just for listening,
It's for feeling.
Find a piece of music and just move to it.
You don't have to dance certain steps,
But just let your body show you how it wants to move into the energy of a piece of music.
And in doing so,
We often shift and dislodge stuck areas in our emotional system and we release valuable areas that we've been holding onto perhaps too long that give us a massive sense of release,
A surge of energy and that's an absolutely wonderful experience.
And number three,
Explore new music.
Step outside your usual genre.
Listen to global music,
Classical,
Jazz or indie artists.
Let your ears travel.
And we're going to end today on a quote by Hans Christian Andersen.
Where words fail,
Music speaks.
