We all love music because it represents order. The very kind we crave in our lives.
The writer and philosopher, Kahlil Gibran once eloquently said that “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”
Anyone who has listened to good music or has a favorite playlist would not agree any less with Kahlil Gibran.
Perhaps it is the delicate arrangement of the notes, each perfectly taking its place and serving its function. No note is more important than the other. No note overpowers the other.
In fact, the beauty of a musical piece is in the balance of the arrangement. Each note gracefully coming in at its appointed time.
The sound of music communicates to our souls in ways we cannot consciously explain. It brings with it several benefits both neurologically, physically, and emotionally. As Dr. Anne Fabiny wrote in Harvard Business Review concerning the importance of music,
“Listening to and performing music reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, speech, emotion, and reward.”
That said, here are six benefits you stand to gain from listening to music.
Music Boosts Creativity
The music you love is like food for your soul.
We are emotionally connected to music. The delicate and orderly arrangement of the notes in a musical piece has a deep connection to our souls.
And as such, when our bodies may be feeling unmotivated, a good piece of music will always play the role of lifting your souls.
This is why many artists, scientists, surgeons, philosophers love to listen to music while they are engaging with what they love to do.
The Legendary Neurosurgeon, Ben Carson often played music during his surgical operations. Even Albert Einstein once said,
“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music”
As an otolaryngologist at Jon Hopkins University observed, “There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does.”
This means that a good way to find the motivation or get into a state of flow is to find a playlist that you love and get yourself going.
Music Can Boost Your Mood
In an interesting study, researchers interviewed a group of people across different ages and cultures concerning why they listened to music.
The researchers found that listening to music helps people regulate emotional arousal and mood to achieve self-awareness. As they wrote in their elaborate research,
“…music-induced chills produce reduced activity in brain structures associated with anxiety.”
Intuitively, we all understand what this research is putting across.
We’ve all been in situations where we were going through tough times, and impulsively, we bring out our headphones and put on our favorite song.
Of course, we are all fully aware that music doesn’t make the problems go away, but it sure puts us in a better mood.
Music Binds Us
When a national anthem is being sung in a large stadium, it usually causes chills down our spines.
Why? The sound signifies a unity of purpose. The delicate arrangement of the verses and melody cuts through our hearts and bonds us in a way we cannot consciously explain.
Religious gatherings have the same effects on us. When a great spiritual song is being sung and the crowd hums or sings along, we feel as though we are different bodies singing with one voice.
The songs we sing during protests have the same effect on us. They make us feel as though we have the same voice.
Two partners listening to the same love song feel much more bonded at that moment.
Moments of deep music immersion are moments where we can put ourselves in some else’s shoes emotionally. The chills and sometimes the tears bring us together and give us a sense of shared experience.
Music Helps You Exercise More Effectively
Effective exercise engages the body and the mind.
And while you may have your mind on the exact kind of body you want in three months, your body might not always be willing to do the work.
Why? We are humans. We get bored and exhausted. Sometimes we can’t even remember our resolutions after two weeks.
This is where music comes in.
In a 2012 research, in which 12 young athletes participated, those who listened to music during workouts and warm-ups achieved a significantly higher output than those who didn’t.
The researchers observed that those who synched their workout time with music used less oxygen, making them achieve peak performance.
So one important way to use music to listen to that playlist of yours and get your soul engaged with your body.
Music Helps Us Have A Better Response To Stress
It is no news that most of us use music to practice guided meditation.
The practice of using slow, peaceful music to relax is supported by research.
In a 2013 research done by researchers at the University of Zürich, 60 female participants were divided into three groups. One group was exposed to relaxing music, another to the sound of rippling water, and the rest without music.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the groups exposed to sound were far more able to handle stressful tasks more than those who were not.
The implication of this is that a good way to start your day is to listen to a beautiful piece of solemn music either during meditation or by simply breathing deeply. This makes you have better control over your emotions during the day.
Music Can Help You Study Better
We all have different opinions concerning using music to study.
Some find it useful while others find it distracting. But generally, it is important to note that whether or not music helps you study usually depends on the type of music. Is it calm? Is it the type of music you like to listen to? Or is it just a random song being played by someone else?
Studies suggest that music can aid studying, but the usefulness of music to studying is determined by the kind of music you use.
Nonetheless, using music to study still depends on you. If it works for you, having a playlist of solemn music you love as background music can be a great way to optimize your study time.
I’m currently studying at university as a Fine Arts major, and lately, I’ve been in a slump when it comes to the projects I need to submit for school. I found it interesting when you mentioned how people are emotionally connected to music, so listening helps stimulate the brain and boosts one’s creativity. I’ll be sure to take note of this while I look for romantic country music to listen to that might inspire me to paint again.