Three Ways Music Benefits Health
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Music is a powerful tool for maintaining wellness.
In an ideal world, life would be grand. We would always feel our best, look our best, and do our best. But the world is not perfect, and neither are we. We get sick, we get sloppy, and we get lazy. Nothing impacts mood or health more than stress. Because we live in an imperfect world, bad days will happen. Stress will follow. You might go to sleep upset and wake up on the wrong side of the bed. What will you do about it? What will happen if you do not address your stress? You might become numb to its effect, finding your mind is reactive, your emotions are raw, and your health is suffering.
When faced with a challenging day, it is easy to succumb to negativity. But remember, you have the power to change your course. Have you ever thought, “I can’t deal with this, so I won’t.” That thought is a lie. You will deal with your challenges because you want to feel better. And music is your ally in this journey. Music is not just a source of entertainment but a powerful tool for dynamically maintaining wellness. It has the incredible ability to uplift your mood, alleviate stress, and bring a ray of hope into your life.
Following are three ways listening to music can improve your health. Music can positively impact your health by enhancing mood, decreasing pain perception, and improving cardiovascular functions.
1. Music can enhance mood. Listening to enjoyable music can improve emotional regulation by eliciting relaxation and has been shown to clinically improve symptoms of depression and anxiety (Moltrasio et al., 2021).
2. Music can reduce tension and positively affect pain perception. Soothing, mood-boosting music can work wonders in reducing muscular tension, significantly decreasing perceived pain (Celebi et al., 2020). Imagine the comfort and relief it can bring to your life.
3. Music can improve cardiovascular health. Exposure to joyful-sounding music and music with a slow tempo can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and ease the constriction of blood vessels (Simon, 2015).
The effects of music can be transient, much like the effects of meditation. But by incorporating relaxing, soothing, and joyful music into your daily routine, you can maintain a steady stream of positive energy. Start your day with prayer and meditation, using music to quiet your thoughts and connect. Listen to soothing and joyful music daily for uplifted thoughts and emotions. When facing difficulties, use music to evoke positive emotions, and you will find your thoughts focused on what truly matters. There are no obstacles to good health and wellness, only challenges that can be overcome with the right tools. Music is a powerful tool! What can an intentional daily practice of relaxing to healing music do for you?
References
Çelebi, D., Yilmaz, E., Şahin, S. T., & Baydur, H. (2020). The effect of music therapy during colonoscopy on pain, anxiety and patient comfort: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 38, Article 101084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101084
Moltrasio, J., Dominguez, F., Detlefsen, V., & Rubinstein, W. (2021). Música y emocionalidad: efectos de la música sobre el estado de ánimo y la memoria verbal [Music and emotionality: effects of music on mood and verbal memory]. Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina), 32(154), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.53680/vertex.v32i154.111
Simon, H. B. (2015). Music as medicine. The American Journal of Medicine, 128(2), 208-210. https://doi.org/10.1006/j.amjmed.2014.10.023
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