Listen up

What is the "My Health, Your Health" blog about? It's a place, although not a physical one (yet!) where you visit when you are in the mood to feel good. Some people like to cook, others eat, some like to do sports, others cheer, some sing, dance or draw, and others enjoy receiving the healing touch to clear their minds. This is a blog about taking responsibility for what it is that you like doing! What makes me feel good and what makes you feel good. For this reason I encourage you to tell me what makes you happy and perhaps what topics you would like MHYH to be about. In return, I will choose topics that make people energized, active, in control, and happy. I'll also often write about my favorite things.
As a first official blog entry (Baby Steps was my affirmation that this is actually real) I wish to write about the effects of music and how we can truly benefit from listening to songs.
We know how the senses work and therefore we know that each one is connected to the brain and through day to day experiences our audio, visual, taste, smell and touch will be translated into something we like or dislike. This interpretation process of categorizing begins from the moment we are born, and like many things we experience from that moment onward much of it will register what types of sounds, smells, tastes and so on we will respond positively and negatively to over time. Pavlov's classic conditioning theory states that reinforcement let us know how to process certain things. One will associate a good feeling, or stimuli, such as the warm touch from the caregiver when a bottle of milk is given to the child, which is not a necessary action but gives a positive interpretation for the child. The taste of the milk and the positive emotion will remain connected unless later it becomes associated with a dislike or bad feeling. Well, what does milk have to do with music? What I wish to explain first is why music is a positive activity for many people. Everyone remembers a song they absolutely love and that particular melody or sound simply makes them feel happy or empowered or vital, that is due to recall that occurs when you associate that song with dancing so freely or being in that group performance. It's the reinforcement of feeling great. Whatever it is that you associate with that song, it feels awesome! That is because your hearing is allowing you to process one sense while experiencing an emotion, such as joy. Emotions vary, and yes, we all have a "tear jerking" song, a "punch the wall" song, and a "falling in love" song. So the objective of this MHYH is to highlight the songs or melodies that make you feel radiant, powerful, and balanced.
Daily affirmations give you a sense that you are in charge, or can be a positive moment in your day. Turning on the radio or TV for news first thing in the morning is no more work than having your alarm clock set to a music station you like, instead of the loud buzzer that wakes you up in the morning. (If you really need that BUZZ in the morning, might I suggest a second alarm somewhere across the room where you need to get out of bed to turn it off). By this time your music is already playing and creating energy. Maybe a softer, smoother tune is your thing, so you choose. Living in the now is essential as it is the perfect invitation to hear something current or fresh allowing for that new "favorite".
I can appreciate that music is not every one's light or inspiration, but I can be sure of the fact that everyone puts one foot in front of the other when they walk, and that... that is rhythm. Yours can be slow, fast, heavy, sexy or simple. I like different songs at different times of the day usually but as we approach sleepy time now it's maybe time for some smooth musical ambiance.