Think of that one song that triggers your emotions and drives a sudden wave of sensation that nothing else can bring to you. It may be a beautiful wedding song or a sad piece that reminds you of a part of your deepest darkest past that may be hard to relive. Either way, music is a powerful tool that can be utilized in one’s daily life to help get past a struggle or celebrate an accomplishment.
Music is commonly used as an encouraging form of motivation to help someone persevere through a challenging situation. An instance where this is seen is when surgeons play their favorite songs to raise their spirits and get the whole team in a confident mood. This can relieve the doctors of their stress and help them feel self assured before performing the surgery, overall leading to a smooth and successful procedure. Similarly, athletes resort to music to pump up while working out or even during intense competitions. Most sports teams on the Diamond Bar High School campus blast music to motivate their athletes. Lara Gao from the Diamond Bar High School tennis team says, “I like to listen to rap music when we run because it usually has a certain beat to keep me on a steady pace.”
In contrast to being a motivational entity, music can act as a type of coping mechanism for people who are struggling with conflicting situations. If someone is going through a breakup, they might listen to a song that has vivid lyrics to evoke a strong feeling of sadness. In doing so, they can grieve the relationship and person that they lost in order to move on. Another situation may be a song played at a funeral. Just like a wedding, people typically play music to commemorate the person they are celebrating or mourning for. The song can be a comfort to those who are left behind. This can help them successfully get on with their lives, knowing that the person who passed is in a better place.
As seen in both cases, music is able to push people to overcome hard instances in their life. According to Healthline, “Listening to music benefits us individually and collectively.” Whether that is through a newly released album or simply the national anthem after the elections, music helps us stay connected and feel a sense of cohesion. It can also have benefits with one’s memory and learning experience, which is why many students find it helpful to listen to music while completing their schoolwork. Music is also known to have lasting benefits on people with mental health issues as it changes the brain. No matter what age, gender, or background someone is from, music has the power to help people regulate and process emotions through the melody and lyrics that accompany the song.
Some may think that music can be a distraction, but in reality, music can solely exert a positive influence on one’s life. It helps turn the negative situation around in order to move us forward to a brighter future. So turn on your favorite tune today, and always enjoy the music.
