5 Ways Music Can Empower You

"1. Music as a natural reward. The act of listening and having one's senses stimulated by music is naturally rewarding. Research shows that when we listen to music, our brains release dopamine, which, in turn, makes us happy.

2. Music as a source of energy. When we hear a piece of music, its rhythm latches onto us in a process called "entrainment." If the music is fast-paced, our heartbeats and breathing patterns will match the beat. That arousal may then be interpreted by our brains as excitement. The more pleasant-sounding the music, the greater the level of entrainment.

3. Music brings people together. Synchrony leads to positive emotional states and joint arousal. Synchrony is the central feature of dance, whether one is in synchrony with the music, with other people, or with both. Evidence suggests that the social context of dancing is linked with the release of endorphins, the body’s “feel good” chemicals.

4. The enjoyment of sad music. Sad music helps to channel one’s frustration or purge negative emotions, like anger and sadness. At the biological level, sad music is linked to the hormone prolactin (associated with crying), a chemical that helps to curb grief. Prolactin produces feelings of calmness to counteract mental pain.

5. Emotion regulation. Music has the power to affect one's quality of life through emotion regulation. Music that expresses joy may motivate listeners to interact in a particularly excitable way, such as dancing. Furthermore, listening to sad music can be like the phenomenon of depressive realism, which maintains that people are more realistic when they are sad."

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

What are your favorite songs at the moment? How do they empower you?

#Music #Empowerment #EmotionalRegulation