Your Health & Wellness:
Music As Therapy
Music is therapy, especially instrumental genres like classical music, jazz, and Spanish guitar. There are companies built on the idea that babies’ brains develop better with classical music. Have you ever noticed that you think more clearly with some instrumental music playing? If you’re not in the habit of playing some great music at night and during the day, you’re missing out on its therapeutic value.
Imagine listening to some wonderful music instead of listening to the news or binge watching a show. I decided a few years ago that the constant barrage of news and streaming shows weren’t adding to my well being. I shifted to reading the news and being really selective about what to watch. TV news stories are repeated over and over without much variety but reading medical news, tech news, healthcare and design trends is fun.
When I admit to people over 50 that I’m not a TV news junky, they look at me incredulously. They kind of turn off. It seems to be a controversial subject that they don’t want to dive into. Maybe it’s a bit like being vegetarian…. They don’t want to talk about it. They don’t ask questions. Maybe that’s where your head is going right now. Are you thinking that TV informs you with news and commentary. That people who care about the world spend a lot of time watching news programing?
Reading isn’t as addictive as sitting in front of the TV. And you can read faster than watching it. Plus, you get to interpret what you read for yourself. Have you ever read the book and then watched the movie only to say that you enjoyed the book more? I have. Maybe that’s why I like to read so much. I’ve found reading can improve the quality of my week.
An auditory diet and a visual diet are kind of like fruits and vegetables. They go together. What if you stopped watching TV and became mesmerized by a fireplace instead? How would you feel looking at the glow of the fire? What if your evenings were filled with good conversation against a candle lit background? What if you played a board game or cards?
If you immediately think of a bunch of reasons why this would never work for you, playfully examine your thoughts. What if you’re wrong? What if you actually tried one of these things and liked it? If you did like it, what would that be like? What would it feel like to spend an evening eating nutrient rich food, listening to therapeutic music that lifts you up, in a visually compelling space? Do you think you might feel really good in that moment?
Our environment is so impactful to our health and well being. Just like trying to avoid a bunch of processed food for our health, we need to think about what we’re listening to and looking at. Your experience of life can be improved with simple changes in how you engage with the moments that are yours to decide.
I’ve created a way for you to take action now. It’s a fun sheet that will encourage you to take specific actions to change the quality of your moments. If you’re going through change in your life or in the way you look at your life, and you’re interested in creating new patterns, this fun sheet may help you. You can download it for free here. On the next podcast I interview travel experts Eve and Thomas Chauvel who share what’s new and noteworthy in the cruise industry. For instance, you may want to think about going on an intergenerational cruise for a family reunion, especially if you have grandchildren. On the other end of the spectrum are adventure expeditions by National Geographic and others. I love their fresh ideas and their in-depth knowledge about planning a vacation that will be truly exceptional and exactly what you want.I’m very interested in hearing from you and finding out about the things you’re thinking as you design your second half. I’d love to know what you’d like to be doing with the rest of your life or if you’re stuck trying to figure it out. I’ve created a downloadable pdf document to help you navigate the big changes in your life with more clarity and less anxiety. If you think this might be helpful, just click here.