Music Lifts Mood and Energy

Music has been in my life for as long as I can remember — and that’s a long time; my memories go back as far as 1-1/2 years old. Singing along with records, TV programs (there were lots of those in those days), and musicals was my way of life. I didn’t sing well, but I loved it!

Music is for dancing too, ya know. While I was shy about it (keeping an ear cocked for anyone approaching my room so I could stop before they saw me), I used to envision, at the age of about six, dancing with Fred Astair. I would use the vertical post of the bunk bed to throw a chiffon scarf through, creating a Fred with arms that moved. Oh, the rug we would cut with our fancy foot work! The music was in my head. The song was in my heart and feet.

As I’d walk through the neighborhood and fields I often made up songs, both words and music, and sang to my heart’s content. I did that a lot in grade school, and again in college as I collected buggies in the grocery store parking lot. It lifted my spirits; though they weren’t low before, they were higher after.

Music, music, music.

When “Up With People” came to town, I joined their local group and loved performing with them. Attending dances was the other big social thing I did throughout junior and senior high. And there was always an album playing at home — classical, R&B, rock and roll, folk songs, and “kids classics”.

The movie Flash Dance came along at the right time to remind me of the value of music in my life, and the value of joy in life. I had just gotten divorced and was thrown off my game. The determination to thrive, the sense of freedom, and the joy for life I got from that movie — the music and dancing, especially — lifted me from my depression. I walked taller, strode with purpose, and wore a big smile. People really saw the difference in me and wondered what happened.

Then I discovered jitterbug — backbeat jitterbug, to be precise — taught by Jitterbug Joe. I had a new joy: dancing a minimum of three nights per week to live bands (Patrick and the Dinosaurs and Rob Rio being my two favorites) at different places around town. I made new friends, and got lots of great exercise as I danced my heart out. I was in love with life again. And, life was in love with me!

A classic radio station played constantly in my car and in my office to keep traffic and work mellow. When I wanted to perk things up a bit, I’d switch to my favorite rock and roll station and “dance” to the music.

So far music produced by others has been my focus. Let me change “channels” a moment. Nature has her own music too. Wind in the trees, the ocean breaking on the shore, songs of the whale and dolphin and birds, even a crackling fire — also impact your mood and energy.

You don’t need to be anywhere special to have music in your life — it’s everywhere!

I knew how music impacted me, but it was such a part of my life I didn’t fully appreciate how music impacted me until I started attending big conferences that use music. In those events, music is used to great effect for lifting the energy of the group and announcing when the next session was about to begin. Funny how it sometimes takes others to show you what you’ve “always” known. Energy lifts energy and moods.

That reminder came in handy for me recently. With out-patient surgery scheduled shortly after one of those events that uses music to lift the energy I decided to use some of my favorite songs from their selection to boost my energy as the date neared. I couldn’t exactly dance even before surgery, so I’d sway and bounce to the music and feel the energy rise. That became part of my hourly-break routine I loved it so much.

Not being a good patient, or knowing what to expect of my recovery, I knew I needed help staying upbeat.

The afternoon after my surgery I put the music on and my toes and fingers danced to the music. Sweet. The next day my feet and hands got into the action with my fingers and toes. Progress. And the next day there was even more involvement as my body swayed to the music, as my fingers, hands, arms, feet, and toes danced. Oh, this is going well! The next day I was on my feet and gently bouncing as the rest of my body grooved to the music, and loved it! The next day, though, was the best yet — I did an all out, though guarded, dance to the song for almost five minutes. Whoot! Within ten days of my surgery I danced with full energy and exuberance for that five minutes. Music is so healing — of mind and spirit, which contributes to a healing body.

No days in bed for me. Naps for a few days, yes, but not bed ridden. Sick people stay in bed, not me. When I’m in bed, you know I’m really sick. Doing what I want, even if in slow motion, every day is important to me. Music. And all that worked in my recovery.

It’s not just me who knows this about music. You already heard about the conference leaders who use music: Tony Robbins, Jeff Walker, Brendon Burchard, …. You see people driving down the road “dancing” and singing to music they are playing in their car — and they always have a smile on their faces. I have a friend who likes to take solo road trips because it gives her an excuse to play her favorite songs (which are ample) at full volume so she can sing at full volume without disturbing anyone.

Stores play music. Movies and TV programs play music to get and keep you engaged (though sometimes it’s to make you sad or scared before the action does that for you).

It’s time to look at music in a new way for your life. Feeling stressed? Play music. Feeling happy? Play music. Feeling blue? Play music. Feeling alone? Play music. Feeling social? Play music. Feeling like a slug? Play music — and dance to it!

Music heals all that ails you. Music can come from your car radio, your stereo, your computer or phone, or from nature. Make sure it comes into your life to support the energy you need to get through your day with the mood you deserve to have.

Music is magic. Music lifts your mood and energy.