Imagining a life without music is impossible. Music is everywhere. The melodies of music surround us in different forms. For instance, the sound of rain or the chirping of birds, everything seems pleasing if we can hear and understand the music it creates. Music is a part of everyone’s life. It is omnipresent, we just need to be silent and hear the music around us. Certain rhythms and notes can attract our attention easily. So, when we hear music that is produced by different artists, we start humming the song we like. Music listening is one of the pleasurable acts for humans. It can have various effects on our mood.
Music is a constant companion in people’s daily lives. People listen to music while doing all kinds of tasks. While driving or while doing the workout, everyone has their playlists. While some prefer fast beats, some feel relaxed listening to sad or romantic songs. Various kinds of music bring different kinds of emotions to us. It does not come as a surprise at all. Since you must have noticed the change in the mood a song can bring. Whenever our favorite song plays, we feel happy. There is always a smile that comes to no matter the place or vibe. Hence, there is no doubt that music affects our mood.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
Effects of Music
Music has a profound effect on us. Music is extremely strong. Whether it is sad music that makes us feel connected when we are going through a difficult time. Or happy music that adds an extra bounce in our move. Studies show that the music we listen to affects our psychology by engaging a broad variety of neurobiological processes. While music can bring happiness and contentment, but it also has a variety of psychological benefits. Music can calm the mind, energize the body, and even aid in pain management.
-
Music as a friend
Moreover, positive listening uplifts our mood. In a study published in 2013, the Journal of Positive Psychology discovered that people who listened to happy and upbeat music were able to boost their mood and general wellbeing in just a few weeks. While the study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that people prefer sad music when they are suffering a deep emotional loss. Music serves as a replacement for a broken friendship. People consider music as their empathic friend who genuinely knows and understands what they are going through.
-
Music as a way to escape reality
Furthermore, music’s position in feelings of transcendence is emphasized in related theories. We all perceive our favorite music as something special. Something that supersedes the ordinary, and transports us “out of ourselves,” taking us to another place. As a result, music can serve as a form of escape too. For instance, we have heard people zoning out to another world as music helps to enhance the imagination. Besides this, music also helps to distract us from the outside world. With so much creativity and beautiful compositions, music acts as a way to create a world of our own.
-
Music as a tool of self-awareness
Music also amplifies our mood by making us think about ourselves, increasing the self-awareness of us as individuals. It helps to focus on who we are, what we want in life, and how to achieve that. Positive music gives us an optimistic outlook on life. We feel more content, but it can also alleviate the demand for more. Listening to songs makes us believe that we can let go of our worries and gives us comfort. Truly, music adds meaning in life building a pragmatic approach.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
-
Music enhances social engagement
Additionally, it functions as a morale booster and encourages us during social interaction. Music forms a connection with people and is an excellent way to know about someone’s thought process. You must have heard people saying that your playlist tells a lot about your personality. Thus, it is a mode to express our identity and values to others, while gaining social relatedness.
-
Music alters our attitude
Scientists have discovered that listening to happy or sad music alters our perception of the world. Mood and music are inextricably related. By selecting music that elicits a particular emotional reaction in us, we can instantly change our mood, attitude, or perception. Music has a unique emotional impact on each of us. Not all ‘happy’ songs are widely regarded as uplifting or guaranteed to make us feel good all of the time. Moreover, there is ‘comfort in melancholy’ at times, and a theoretically sad song can also be therapeutic and calming.
-
Music reduces stress
Music has long been thought to aid in the reduction or management of stress. Include the growing obsession for meditative music, which is designed to calm the mind and induce relaxation. While music can have a mood-altering effect, the style of music is also significant. Classical and trance music has the most positive effects on mood, while heavy metal and techno music are counterproductive and even harmful.
Conclusion
Photo by Marcelo Chagas from Pexels
A growing number of scientific studies are confirming what many of us already know: music improves our mood. Some people are unaware that our mood is inescapably related to our overall health. Being in a better mood helps us improve our physical wellbeing, make better lifestyle choices, and strengthen our relationships. We feel healthier physically and emotionally when we feel better mentally. So, you are probably right if you have ever heard of a few great songs and felt that your whole day was turning for the better. Music affects our emotions and will always be a part of our lives!
To read more articles related to music, click here.
