Day 235/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
Seriously, am I the only person in the world who has spent the better part of her life in misery?
Today we're reflecting on the idea of music as therapy.
Now music is something I've enjoyed from time to time in my life, and one of those times happens to be right now. My gorgeous son set me up with a Spotify playlist and I listen to it often. I even started one of my own.
In the passed I've enjoyed the symphony, rock and roll, and others that I don't even know the name of.
At other times I've been so down on life that music is little more than an irritation. The logic tells me that music will lift the spirits however the spirits are not up for lifting when they are deflated to the point of no return.
Maybe that's what people call depression. I dunno. I don't think I've ever called my down states depression. On a barometer with depression at the bottom, I think misery might be halfway between depression and socially competent.
Music certainly has a quality that resonates with the body and tunes up the cellular resonance. Wouldn't it be great if we had the motivation to seek the right notes at the time we need them most. I wonder how often that is the case.
Music therapy is becoming known to be supportive of mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Mantras are proven, I believe, to have healing qualities. The OM itself resonates through the body in magical and mysterious ways.
Sarah is waxing lyrical about the benefits of a playlist for every mood, and reminds me of my son's advice. "Mum, make a play list for every mood! One for driving, one for chilling, an upbeat one for when you're walking..." Work in progress!
Sarah suggests music for creativity, for study, for writing, for cooking, for anything really.
For me it is silence I need most at those times. I want to hear the sounds of the birds, the breeze in the trees, children playing in the neighbourhood. I want to be connected to the sounds of life in my vicinity.
We're all so very different. What is your relationship to music? I'd love to hear.
For now, the sounds of silence are music to my ears. And I'll enjoy my playlists when I am able to dedicate time to moving my body to the beats of golden oldies.
And a final word. Choose your music carefully. You do not want to have some of those lyrics on repeat to the rhythmical beats in your mind, forming neurological pathways that do not support mental and emotional growth!
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.