Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
I love to sing. It is what makes me happier than anything. Every path I have taken in my life always leads me back to song and music. Over the years it’s helped me through difficult times and been part of more joyful times too. There many pieces of music that I associate with these seasons in my life.
It was our wedding anniversary last week and I received the most beautiful gift from Thomas, a framed picture of the song that I sang at our wedding 18 years ago. Heaven – Candlelight Mix by DJ Sammy featuring Yanou & Do. Anytime I want to listen to it, I just scan the picture and Ta-Da!!!!!
It got me thinking about how powerful music is. How much comfort it can bring us. How it connects us. How there are pieces of music that transcend time, with their meaning just as poignant or in some cases even taking on a new or deeper meaning.
Why is music such a powerful way to process our emotions?
Now before I get into thinking about this question, I wanted to say that I spent some time reading the comments on the YouTube page for Heaven. There is honestly some of the most beautiful stories in there, people sharing their hearts and vulnerability.
When my mum passed away 7 years ago, it broke my heart. She lived with us and we cared for her, we knew it was coming, but after all her bravery and everything she’d overcome living with cancer for nearly 10 years, I still couldn’t believe that she was gone from our lives.
This is the song that resonated with me the most in the months that followed. It’s called Roots by Lucie Silvas, it’s on her album Letters to Ghosts that came out only the month before.
Oh man, now I’m crying. I feel so blessed that we had that time and our kids have the chance to get to know her. During that time in my life, music got me through. Maybe the reason that music is so powerful at helping us to process our emotions is because it speaks to us on a deeper, more unconscious level than other forms of art. The rhythm, melody, and lyrics of a song can all evoke strong emotions and memories in us, even if we don’t consciously understand why.
Many of us have a song that we listen to when we need a pick-me-up, or a soothing song that takes us to a place of calm and security. The lyrics in a song can often resonate with us in a way that nothing else can, and the emotions they stir up can be incredibly powerful. They can provide comfort, encouragement and a sense of hope and belonging, particularly in difficult of times. They can be a source of strength when we need it most.
I have a song that I always sing to myself when I feel overwhelmed. It’s called Counting by Lucie Slivas (you may detect a theme here, she is my favourite musician!). I also sing it to my kids if they are needing soothed. It has such a fantastic rhythm and the lyrics inherently make you stop and just count.
Music is A Shared Experience
What is so beautiful is how music can bring people together. When we listen to music, we can feel like we are part of a larger community. Reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles, which amplifies our sense of connectedness. This can be particularly true when it comes to songs that have lyrics, as the words can serve as a form of expression and validation for our own feelings and experiences.
Music can remind us of the love we have for someone, or the love that someone has for us. A song that you heard at a happy moment in your life might forever be associated with that moment, and hearing it again is likely to bring back feelings of joy and nostalgia. Similarly, a song from a sad or traumatic event or time period can bring up negative emotions when heard in the future.
In many cultures music is a big part of family events and milestones such as birthdays, weddings and funerals. We also use music to celebrate times of year, like the New Year, where right across the world Scotland is celebrated through the lyrics of Robert Burns as people across the globe sing Auld Lang Syne.
CAn Music be a Form of Therapy?
Whether it’s a sad song to help you cry it out, an upbeat tune to lift your mood, or simply background noise while you work, music has a way of connecting with us on an emotional level.
It can have a positive impact on emotional, mental, and physical well-being, and has been used in therapeutic settings to treat a range of conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
The benefits of music therapy are wide ranging and include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety. Research has shown that listening to slow, calming music can slow down heart rate and breathing, promoting a relaxed state of mind.
- Improved mood: Research has shown that music can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin in the brain.
- Providing a sense of control: Music can be an outlet for people to express themselves and they can use it to help alter their emotional state.
- Improved sleep: Research has shown that listening to slow, calming sounds or music before bedtime can help to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality, which is essential for overall mental health and well-being.
I’ve also seen some amazing examples of where music helps with neurological conditions and illnesses such as dementia, where music can unlock parts of the brain and aid with communication.
Key Takeaways
I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of this discussion. It blows my mind that we can create such amazing sounds and craft such beautiful words and that something seemingly so simple can do so much good for our being.
Music and song lyrics can be a powerful tool for managing emotions and finding solace in difficult times. I urge you the next time you’re feeling down, to consider playing your favourite song and letting the words provide you with the comfort you need.
I would love for you to share if there are certain songs or pieces of music that help you to process your emotions. They might even help someone else who is going through a tough time.