Gayle HThe topic of this Friday’s newsletter was going to be an scientific look at how moving your body will stimulate the right side of your brain. And how stimulating the right side of your brain will help spark your creativity, strategic thinking, and idea generation. And how all of this is great for you, personally and professionally. And then a little bit about how to move your body every day (even on the busy days).
But the words weren’t flowing freely for me.
And then I heard this song.
And now I’m writing about music.
I’m a huge music addict. Those who know me well know that I am a head bangin babe addicted to the hair band groups of the 80’s. Those who don’t know me well are always surprised by that image. We all have a past.
Music can make you happy, excited, or energetic. Music can build your confidence as you hear someone verbalizing exactly how you want to feel. Music can make you feel safe, remind you of special times, stop you in your tracks at a forgotten memory that appears during ABBA’s Dancing Queen track.
Music can change everything.
In fact, I have a leadership seminar that I teach focused on resilience and confidence. In this seminar I ask participants to identify their Theme Songs.
Because having a song that represents who you want to be and how you want to feel is the perfect tool for supporting a confident stance.
I even have a music plan to support a productive work week!
Mondays I start out with a little Zac Brown Radio. Something about country music makes you feel like you can do anything. And, if you can’t, there’s always sitting on the sand with a beer to help you through.
Fridays is Hair Bands Radio ALL DAY LONG. All that stress and hard work released during one Cinderella scream. Or the guitar rift by Slash during Guns-N-Roses November Rain. Or if a really bad week, there is nothing like a few Ozzy songs to help you work things out.
But when it comes to music to write to, I mix it up. I need something softer, something that gets me feeling inspired. Something that speaks to my heart, not my head.
Thus I’m listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Radio station during the holiday season. Which is what I was doing as I sat to write this newsletter.
And this song started.
And I just stopped.
And I listened.
And I felt lighter.
And I felt a calmness come over me.
And then I banged out this newsletter in record time.
Because music can change everything.
Music changes your mindset. Music frees up ideas when they are not flowing easily. Music relieves stress after a busy day. Music makes us pause, listen, be in the present.
We are at the end of another year. The holiday season gives us a platform for love, family, friends and relaxation. The new year gives us a platform for reflection, visioning and planning.
And a little well placed music will enhance your ability to stay fully present in all of the above.
So find a song, a channel, or an artist who represents how you want to feel. And turn the volume up! After all, dancing is a great way to move!
Gayle H
