Have you ever wondered why music seems to be everywhere we go? At the malls, in workplaces, at ATM machines, in Church…
Can you recall how you prepared for that long road trip by ensuring your phone was fully charged with an updated playlist?
Or when you had to meet a deadline and listened to music to calm your nerves?
As believers we know gospel music are spiritual with many miracles recorded in an atmosphere of praise and worship.
Music has been recognised as a healing vehicle that refreshes the spirit, soul and body as recorded in the Bible and documented in scientific journals. Music therapy as a non-invasive medical treatment, can also be used with healthy children and adults to maintain wellness throughout life using music in a focused and concentrated way for healing and for change.
In a world full of chaos and distractions, there is a need to musically nurture our wellness consciously by creating a positive spirit filled atmosphere because prevention is better than cure and a merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22).
5 WAYS OF NURTURING WELLNESS THROUGH MUSIC
1. Play a favorite song relax, and just focus on the music: Notice your breathing, the support that you feel from the surface you are sitting or laying on and any time your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the music.
2. Create a playlist to accompany a routine: Instead of waking up to an alarm, create a playlist that has a song to rouse you, a song to accompany getting dressed, a song to hear as you gather your things for work or school. This will establish your morning routine as a time of directing your day.
3. Put on some background music during family meals: With busy schedules, families rarely have time to have meals together. You can make those family meals a special time by playing background music thereby making it a time not just for dining but also for fellowshipping in spirit and in truth.
4. Instrumental worship music during prayer time: In Scripture there is a connection between music being played and the Spirit moving in people’s hearts (1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Samuel 10:5-6, 2 Kings 3:14-16, Ephesians 5:18-19). You can create this atmosphere during your personal prayer time of watering your prayer seeds as you sow to the spirit.
5. Music and Productivity at work: In most workplaces, headphones have become standard work accessories. You can explore this option in boosting your productivity at work. It is worthy to note that music can uplift and keep you steady through monotonous work. Research suggests that certain music will or won’t work for productivity, based on your boredom tolerance. There are a few considerations while making your playlist:
– If your work involves processing thoughts and words), steer clear of music with lyrics. Lyrics can give you mixed messages and distract you in the long run.
– Highly complex structures of music can also jumble the brain and make it work overtime.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp (Psalm 29:4)
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
There are numerous ways of nurturing our wellness through music beyond the listed points. How do you nurture your wellness through music?
Sources: Heartbeat Music Therapy online; Well and good webpage; South Florida Sun Sentinel post: feel the healing power of music; Music Therapy, Wellness and Stress Reduction conference paper.
