Many of us turn to music when we need an emotional boost. Whether it’s songs about a painful break-up, or a party mix to get us in the mood for going out, or even a slow, calming rhythm to fall asleep to, music has the potential to explore every facet of human emotion. And that’s why it’s such an important tool for this exercise.

The Theory

We’ve all seen those Mood Playlists on our favorite streaming sites, where endless compilations of songs can carry us into a particular way of feeling. We are all tempted to drift into that music and become those emotions, and we often choose music that fits our current mood so that we can feel comfortable within that headspace. But what if your headspace is sad, or anxious, or filled with tension from the day? Music can either feed that mood, making you feel worse than ever, or sometimes it even causes clashes when it doesn’t match the current way that we’re feeling, and that makes us feel angry, which is even worse.

We need a way to control those emotions and turn them around, and this is where the active part of creative mindfulness takes over. When you try this activity, you may find it challenging to get into the groove at first, and that’s perfectly normal. It takes a little practice to truly interact with music and transport yourself into new ideas and motivations, but once you’re there, it’s well worth the difficulty of the journey.

The Activity

Song selection for this music-based exercise is intended to get us out of our comfort zones and prepare us for a new emotional experience. But that doesn’t mean you have to choose songs that you don’t like, because you still need to make a connection with the mood and the lyrics. Select the kind of music that reflects how you want to feel, rather than your current mood, and try to choose a song or artist that you haven’t heard in a while so it sounds fresh in your mind.

The activity works in two stages, and the first can be done anywhere and at any time, using a pair of headphones. The more noise-canceling and quality you have, the better, or just pick a quiet space to listen. With the song on repeat, take your time to notice each of the notes and instruments that make up the background, behind the lyrics. Do this several times in order to fully get into the mood of the song. Then, as soon as you’re able to take it to the second phase, blast that song out loud and sing along. Take the mood you’ve experienced in the notes and the melody, and express it fully through loud, proud lyrics.

Reflection

If you feel a little tense the first time that you try this, then please don’t be discouraged, because it is a real process of finding the right tunes and finding your own freedom. Many people prefer to sing in the shower because their voices resonate nicely, but sounding good is not the primary goal. Feeling good, and feeling the moment of the song is the real, central purpose, and once you hit on that golden feeling, you’ll know you’re doing your brain some good. And you’ll have put yourself into a much more creative, receptive, and mindful mood!