Mindfulness Through Music: Songs That Meet Us Where We Are
Some of life’s issues don’t call for advice or motivation or even man-made solutions. Sometimes we just need recognition and acknowledgment. When we feel out of place, less than hopeful, are grieving, or even confused and bewildered, we just long to be seen just the way we are in that moment. For me, music is the sacred ground. Music doesn’t require us to move or take action. Sometimes we just need to sit and chill. And with the right songs, they usually meet us right where it needs to: where we are.
While we may feel we don’t want it, songs provide motivation, but they don’t rush us into any of the unnecessary. They find us or we find them through the happenstances of life and what makes them so beautiful is that music and songs always allows us to be human, no more and no less. Spinning the Kind Rebirth methodology, mindfulness teaches us perfectly how to stay in the present moment and how to stay up close and personal with our inner experience instead of trying to reject it or find a way to get away from it. I’ve now come to recognize that mindfulness is like sound, more appropriately, like music. It does the same thing. When you find a song, for instance, that matches your mood as if the person singing it or playing the melody is right there with you going through your emotions. It doesn’t try and solve your problems, it just places attention on you and whatever you may be going through at the time. If it could tell what it’s intentions were, I imagine that it would say, “I see what you’re dealing with. So, just sit back and let me ride with you while you’re going through what you need to in order to heal. I understand.” I think that’s a good feeling to feel.
I’d challenge you to dig through your crates of vinyl records or scroll through cloud-saved MP3 songs and think about the songs that you like to turn to and turn on when your life is applying too much pressure. I bet they mirror your emotional state. An overwhelming life gets too loud, but with the right soundtrack playing through your mind and through your speakers, it is definitely a close friend. It begins to breathe with you without dragging you back down. In fact, the right song will place you in the spot where you can reflect because it feels like someone knows you and what you are going through.
When you’re sad, I know it’s natural for others to try and make you feel better. And you need those individuals. Your community matters. But there are times in a person’s life when they need to retreat to renew. Consider letting music be one of those outlets for you. When I’ve been down music has allowed me to be sad and recognize what it is I’m holding onto but it doesn’t let you be dragged and buried with despair. It will let you acknowledge that uncertain space you may be in without making any demands for answers. It’s a perfect marriage of reflection and the need for peaceful clarity.
While you’re considering music renew and rebirth your spirit kindly, listen to it with intentional mindfulness (mindful listening). Pay attention to how the song touches down inside of you. As you slow down and breathe a little more consciously, your shoulders begin to drop a little (easing your tension and anxiety). As the music seems to pull you away from yourself, it’s not really. What it’s doing is bringing you closer and aligning you with a higher transcendental nature, even if its only for 3 or 4 minutes at a time.
When songs meet us where we are (for that too short 3-4 mins), the temporary exuberance is comparable to the temporary state of emotions. They, like our favorite albums, playing 1 track at a time, are not permanent. The songs in the most basic and elementary function don’t promise us change, it promises us reflection of the moment. This Rebirth moment through music is an act of kindness.
Healing does not always require lyrics and verses; it may just need meaning. You may need something melodic to identify the feelings and emotions you haven’t been able to verbalize yet or perhaps something outside of you that embraces your truth without label or judgment. See if you can find that peace and Kind Rebirth through music, or maybe you should just let it find you.
Stay mindful…
Rebirth
