Melodious Life

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music -Ronald Reagan

Music influences our lives to an unprecedented degree. It can enhance our psychological states and uplift our mood. Music reminds us of who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. Unlike movies, music provides us with more freedom to construct our own imaginary world transcending the boundaries of reality. If you don’t know, there is a term called “Music Therapy”; it involves the use of music to improve health or functional outcomes. A lot of research can be found on the same online. It makes me wonder what if lyrics are introduced in such therapy. This blog is going to be a thought experiment on using songs as a therapy tool.

Why songs? Just because it’s easy for us to recollect songs, and they have profound effects on our subconscious mind.

Each one of us has a very particular music taste, think what if we use that taste to pick a song that resembles our life. In such a song, the flow of music can communicate our personality types, and the lyrics can reveal deep insights about our current life. There is a high probability that you love that song because it comes from your heart reverberating your heartbeats. Therefore, understanding such a song can not only help us unwind our current psychological state but can also help change that state.

“If you could choose one song to play in the background of your life’s video, to fit perfectly with your life’s aesthetic, as you believe you are presently, which song would that be?”

This question was asked by one of my pen pals a few days ago. Take a moment now to answer it, you will realize the reason later in this blog.

After reading that question, I found that the first song which came in my head wasn’t truly resonating with my life. This seemingly simple question forced me to dig into my playlists. I selected some songs, looked at their lyrics, rejected them, and after some iterations, I had my song. Isn’t it fascinating that just by mingling words and music, we can have something like us!

“Woah! I just discovered a song, singing my life.“

The song I have chosen is “A Million Dreams” from the movie “The Greatest Showman” (I like the version by P!nk more).

I have asked this question to my friends, and I really liked their responses. I could relate their choices with their life. Here are the replies I got from others (songs grouped together are from the same person, you can notice the patterns in such songs):

1. Nico & Vinz — “Am I Wrong”
2. Mandy Moore — “Only Hope”; Priscilla Ahn — “Dream”; Sleeping At Last — “Saturn”
3. Clean Bandit — “Solo”
4. Sufjan Stevens — “Death With Dignity”, Rockstar — “Phir Se Ud Chala”
5. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na — “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi”
6. Half Girlfriend — “Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga”
7. Ammy Virk — “Qismat”

Look at the 4th point. It was from someone who has been a little stressed lately. He texted me “my present life is like the song Death With Dignity, but I want it to be like the song Phir Se Ud Chala”. We can see that due to his life’s scenario, Death With Dignity was something natural to his mind, but he wants to stand again and fly in the air (Phir Se Ud Chala). We all read that question, but it was he who went deeper and used it as a tool to set his goals.

Also, have a look at the 2nd point. All the three songs are deep and relaxing in nature. Listening to such songs makes our subconscious mind more accessible, we can focus on voices and images in our inner self, and it becomes easier for us to soak the lyrics. Talking about the lyrics, all those three songs are closely related with the terms like God, dream, sleep, afterlife, universe, stars, life and death. Analyzing those songs, one can easily guess that the person believes in metaphysical entities, isn’t afraid of death, more drawn to a simple life, fantasizes the vast universe etc. Imagine, if you can infer so much about that person just by looking at the few songs, what enormous conclusions can be made by the listener’s own mind. Each time the songs are being played, the subconscious mind is being trained to pursue the songs, and after many repetitions, we are naturally drawn to that path.

So now, I would like you to do two things:

1. Analyze the song you have chosen previously. Ask yourself, what makes you love that song? What makes you relate to it so closely? Reflect upon the lyrics. Feel the song. Feel your subconscious mind. Let the feelings flow through your body in the form of vibrations.
2. Now think, do you want to feel the same way in your life? Is that song is something you want in your life? If yes, then you are on the right track! Enjoy your playlist. If no, then…

Choose your ideal song

Select a song, the song which portrays the “ideal you”, the song which will accompany you and will bring you on the right track. Every time you listen to it, your neurons should fire in a way to reflect yourself, to bring back the craziness in you. There will be seasons in your life, the times when your life’s song will change, but use the ideal song to steer your life.

“Just like your signature quote, choose your signature song!“

By the way, it need not be a song, it can be a poem. Have you read the poem Agneepath by Harivansh Rai Bachchan? Something like Hanuman Chalisa? Have you ever sing it during tough times, maybe during childhood? Do you remember singing prayers in the school’s assembly area, possibly “We Shall Overcome”? Don’t you think all these concepts are same? Repeat the song enough times so that it streams through your blood. Think!

Hope you enjoyed this simple thought experiment. May your life be the melody you wish.

Thank you for reading till the end. Happy Holidays :)