Music and Motivation: The Power of Music
As any good soundtrack composer knows, music is one of the most powerful ways to play on a person’s emotions. Just think of your favorite movie and how much would be missing without the soundtrack. The soundtrack heightens our emotions, persuading us to cry, to laugh, and to be scared in the appropriate places. The composer uses his music to manipulate us into feeling certain emotions.
Music has power, as organizations such as the American Music Therapy Association have known for some time. Our emotions are easily swayed by music: it catches our attention and stimulates the brain. It’s also a powerful memory aid. Can you recall a day with an advertising jingle running constantly through your head?
And it’s the perfect medium for repetitive messages. Chances are, if you listened to someone intoning, “you can succeed” over and over, you’d tune it out. But put that same message into the chorus of a catchy song, and you’ll listen!
Motivational and Inspirational Music
That’s the whole point behind motivational music—it can change our thinking without us really being aware of it. So many songs deal with sadness, failure, lost love or other problems, dragging us down without us consciously knowing why. Because music stirs old memories and emotions in us, it’s easy to relive old failures and setbacks through songs.
|
Speaking of sadness, here's an Oldie : |
For instance, we might relive the emotions of an unpleasant relationship by hearing a love song that was popular at the time. Fortunately it’s a two-way street, and using inspirational music to generate positive thinking is a very effective self-help tool.
Music Therapy
Listening to inspirational songs with lyrics dealing with Positive Affirmations of Self, and the ability to control events, can really influence how you feel about yourself. Avoid listening to songs dealing with negative topics, such as lost love and despair. Instead, look for lyrics that emphasize how you can take control of life. You might want to drop by Songs of Success, which specializes in CDs with positive lyrics.
Ten Therapeutic Characteristics of Music
Here are ten points that highlight the ways in which music soothes, inspires and motivates people:
- Music captivates and maintains attention—it stimulates and utilizes many parts of the brain.
- Music is easily adapted to, and can be reflective of, a person's abilities.
- Music structures time in a way that we can understand (“that's the last verse—my exercise session is almost over!”).
- Music provides a meaningful, enjoyable context for repetition.
- Music provides a social context—it sets up a safe, structured setting for verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Music is an effective memory aid.
- Music supports and encourages movement.
- Music taps into memories and emotions.
- Music—and the silences within it—provides nonverbal, immediate feedback.
- Music is success-oriented: people of all ability levels can participate.
Motivation in Music: Making It Easy
If you're busy working on your goals, you may not have time to find music that will be your motivation for moving towards your goal. Let the experts do it for you! We found a compilation of popular success-oriented songs filled with positive affirmations to cheer you towards the finish line. Visit Songs of Success to find your musical inspiration.
Music can affect our emotions without our even being aware of it. Think of how less scary Jaws would have been without John Williams’ ominous soundtrack. The power music has over our feelings can be put to work.
Choose songs with inspiring “you can do it” lyrics while you work. Or set aside a time of day to relax, listen to music with lyrics filled with positive affirmations, and visualize yourself working towards and attaining your goals. For example, The Impossible Dream relates that the struggle to attain a goal can be as fulfilling as the eventual success:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go . . .
Music can affect our emotions without our even being aware of it. Think of how less scary Jaws would have been without John Williams’ ominous soundtrack. The power music has over our feelings can be put to work.
Choose songs with inspiring “you can do it” lyrics while you work. Or set aside a time of day to relax, listen to music with lyrics filled with positive affirmations, and visualize yourself working towards and attaining your goals. For example, The Impossible Dream relates that the struggle to attain a goal can be as fulfilling as the eventual success:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go . . .
Positive Messages in Music
Our inner voices are always nattering away, and all too often, what we say about ourselves is pretty negative. But our internal voice can also be used for positive affirmations. Repeating thoughts like “I’m in control,” or “I can do it” may sound a little simplistic, but just think about how often our inner voices tell us “I can’t.” We listen to positive thoughts as much as we do negative thoughts; we only have to get in the habit of thinking positive thoughts.