I think it is safe to say that we have all heard the phrase "music has changed my life." I'll be the first to ask why.
I love music just as much as the next and my Spotify wrapped can speak for itself, but there is a lot to be said about the music that we listen to. The genre, the artist, the beat and so on. I understand it, trust me, I turn to music for almost every mood that I am in. Hell, I am listening to it now. Adele's new album 30, in case you were wondering.
When it comes to music, the first thing you need to know is your reaction to the different kinds of music. For example, I know that if I listen to Taylor Swift's Folklore album, I feel calm. But if I turn on anything by Lewis Capaldi, I might cry. Understanding the feelings that you associate with certain music is the key.
If you are having a rough day and feel like crying, you might be the type of person to sit and wallow in your sad boi hours playlist. There is nothing wrong with that, I'll admit that I do that. But after a while, you have to learn how to change the music and pick up the pace.
Listening to sad music for hours on end is not going to sure your sadness, it might just make it worse. As much as I love being dramatic with myself, I also know that maybe adding some upbeat songs will make me want to get up and make dinner.
On the other end of things, after a night out at the bars, listening to everyone queue up their favorite rap songs on the TouchTunes, you might want to calm down and relax, throw on some of your favorite calming music. Classical, Christian, blues, what ever you prefer.
Most of us can auto-pilot to the type of music that we want to listen to, but I know that I have sat in my car for five minutes trying to decide what kind of mood I am in and what kind of music I need to play for that mood. At times like this, I challenge you to throw something on for the mood that you want to be in.
We always resort to what we are feeling in the moment, but we never think about maybe changing the music to get us in a different mood. How do you think romance and sex songs work? We put that music on to get in the mood, not because we are already in the mood. It is so simple to implement that into other times of the day.
A change of pace in your music could be the difference between you crying in a dark room or getting up to do the laundry that you have been putting off for a couple weeks. Why listen to music directed to how you are feeling when you can listen to music that is directed towards how you want to feel.
Its like a simple math problem, y=mx+ listen to the music that you know will be better for you.
Now I know what this sounds like. Obviously we want to be happy most of the time, so you have to listen to music that makes you happy. But I promise you I am not boycotting sad music, because my sad playlist is one of the longest ones I have. Crying and feeling emotions is healthy. If music is your outlet, the one thing that helps you get those emotions out, then do it. Listen to Olivia Rodrigo preach about that ex you can't get over. Been there done that, 10/10 recommend.
You don't always have to listen to music that is going to put you in the mood that you want to be in, but it is something that I think everyone should try out. Changing our habits can actually be really beneficial and might change your day. It may not be for everyone, but my mother said it best, you won't know until you try.
