Riding in the car with my husband today, I found myself listening to the local radio station. He likes to listen to something called “Throwback at Noon,” a selection of music that we (my husband and I) listened to as teens. As I listened to the familiar songs, I was struck with a thought… Did I really choose this music for myself?

Many of the songs remind me of high school. Naturally, I am in a different place, and yet… I think that if at a young age, I was exposed to a plethora of genres, styles, energies and messages… if I had really had a choice… I may not have chosen the same music.

Admittedly, there is some nostalgia there. Music is powerful. It can push and pull emotions. It can be relaxing, centering, and balancing or it can rack your nerves, stress you out, tick you off or wrap you in sadness. Music reminds us of events and feelings from the past. From the very first note, we can be pulled right back word for word, ad-lib for ad-lib, beat for beat. Even some of the most (now) offensive lyrics pop right into mind while the song is playing.

The difference is that this time, from a place of awareness, watching how my body, mind and spirit reacted to the music, it felt off. Incompatible. The message didn’t jive with who I am today.

 

Are You Negatively Programming Yourself Without Realizing It?

It dawned on me. I don’t feed myself these messages anymore. The songs used to sound like they were “keeping it real” about life and love. Now they sound misguided and even silly.

At home, I usually enjoy music (of all genres) that elevates my mood, and increases my joy. I’m especially thoughtful about this because I have 2 young children. It’s a daily dose of positive programming for all of us. However, many people are unconsciously exposing themselves to the potentially negative effects of music and it’s messages. I’m not saying this applies to all of radio, but it is there, in the mix and in heavy rotation. Over and over, day after day, music that does not affirm life and the journey.

Do I listen to pop music because I’m miserable or am I miserable because listen to pop music?
– John Cusack

I remember going into low emotions just by putting on a specific song. I even knew the exact song to play to go into the dumps, even when my own situation wasn’t really that deep. Sound familiar? We all have done it and definitely when we were teenagers. Seems like insanity in retrospect, but I know many, many people do this without taking a moment, just a beat, to say, “Wait a minute!!! This is crazy! I am doing this to myself! Cut it out!”

 

Did I Choose the Song or Did the Song Choose Me?

I am not against radio music (or any music for that matter).  And everyone needs moments of catharsis every now and then. My thoughts stem from many of us acting as passive consumers, allowing messages to enter our ears and ultimately our minds that we did not choose. Hop in the car, pop on the radio and go. Daily, we feed ourselves potentially harmful messages and rhythms pulsing with heavy emotions, just because it happens to be the song of the day.

Think back to a time when a song you disliked played so frequently on the radio, that it ended up playing in your head. Sometimes you found yourself saying the song “grew” on you. Play a song over and over and it can stick on you, for better or worse.

 

Choose Music Like You Would Choose Affirmations.

Affirmations are (usually) positive statements that affirm who we are and who we can become. They are used to bring about a change in thinking about ourselves, life and the world. Common affirmations are: “I am a joyful person. I am love. I am at peace. I love life. I am successful.” The shift starts on the conscious level and ultimately moves to the subconscious. The goal is to bring our understanding of ourselves into alignment with the love and joy that is already within us. What really seals their effectiveness is adding emotion as you utter or think the statements. As you believe, things show up in your life that are in line with what you believe.

Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality.
– Brian Tracy

Unfortunately, negative thoughts are just as easily accepted into the subconscious as positive thoughts. Every morning would you repeat, “Love is dangerous. I am a victim. I am in agony. I am filled with poison.” with passion and emotion? Probably not on purpose. But if you are regularly listening to music about shooting people, or love that is depicted as painful and dangerous, wanting to be someone’s victim, etc. (all themes from songs currently on the radio), then these are the messages about life that you are programming yourself with. Especially if you are feeling some emotion as you listen and sing along. Again, as you believe, things show up in your experience that affirm what you believe.

 

Awareness is Key

I understand that most people will choose to listen to music they like over what is probably most beneficial to their well being. This still applies to me, though much less often. In this case, be very conscious of what is playing. Even if you like a song that has some not so positive messages, remain aware of this. You don’t have to avoid popular music all together. It’s entertainment. Just know what is being said and what YOU think about it. If you find yourself agreeing with a lyric that says “life is hard,” or “love is pain,” you may want to question that notion. It’s not the truth just because it is in a song. Notice how your entire system reacts. Are you amped up? Do you feel like you want to fight or curse someone out? Are you sad or anxious? Are you reliving a past event, retelling the story, re-feeling the emotion? Watch, notice and please don’t judge yourself. Stay present. As Eckhart Tolle has said, your power is in “your own conscious presence.”

With Love,