Feel-Good Music: Your soundtrack for a better state of mind
Ever noticed how music can instantly shift your perspective?
It can have positive psychological uses apart from pure pleasure. Music is a natural way of anchoring certain states.
Music is like magic for the ears!
One minute you might be wallowing, and the next, a song comes on that snaps you right back to life. That’s because music isn’t just entertainment; it’s a tool. It’s a powerful, mood-shaping, state-changing tool with serious potential beyond mere pleasure.
Use it to steer your state of mind—whatever you’re up to
Certain tunes have the power to create moods, transport us to the past, or yank us out of a slump in record time. Ever been glued to a suspenseful TV show, heart racing, fingers clutching the armrest? Now imagine it without the soundtrack. It would be an instant flop!
It’s the soundtrack that creates the mood
Take the theme from Jaws, for example. You can barely even hear it at the beginning, but it builds and picks up speed. That simple two-note intro is practically a synonym for terror. Even played softly, it conveys a sense of impending doom! If you can’t remember it (really?) click here and listen. You could close your eyes and still feel that sense of foreboding and impending doom!
In fact, if you listen to the soundtrack of any great film, you’ll almost certainly be able to tell what is happening on screen by the style of music being played—even with your eyes closed!
OK ‘Impending doom’ not be what you’re aiming for!
So, why not create your own soundtrack for life? After all, if soundtracks can create drama, suspense, or even romance on screen, imagine what they can do for your emotional state.
A film’s soundtrack plays a pivotal role in creating the atmosphere
You could argue that the music alone creates the ambience. Music has enormous power to change how we feel; our emotional state—sometimes more than does the film itself.
What are the soundtracks of your life?
What music can bring you out of a bad mood? Do you know? If not it might be a good idea to peruse your playlists because, once you are in a funk, it’s unlikely you’re ever going to think, “I know, I’ll just go through my music list and see if I can find something that will make me feel better.”
You really want anti-funk tracks available at the touch of a button.
Which piece makes you feel melancholy? Which tune do you just have to dance to? What song reminds you of your first love?
Given the power that music has on us, it’s beneficial to think about how you can use music to help put you in the state you need to be in for whatever it is you want to do.
Some examples, perhaps?
I love to watch or listen to Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ when I want to feel energised, confident and upbeat. I’ll often play this right at the start of my day before I do anything. I’ll also use that, or Dave Dobbyn’s ‘Slice of Heaven’ (it’s practically an anthem here in New Zealand) if I’m feeling tired at the end of a busy day.
The great, positive lyrics and upbeat tunes compel me to sing along, clap my hands and dance.
Shaggy, my parrot, usually joins in—singing, dancing, and trying (but never quite succeeding) to hold the tune. And honestly, after 4 minutes of listening to either of those songs, try feeling anything but uplifted when you’ve got a dancing, squeaking parrot on your shoulder!
Right time – right music
The problem I have is if I play ‘Happy’ or any similarly upbeat music while I’m working, I end up singing along, dancing and banging out the tune on my desk. That’s not exactly conducive to getting any work done. And it tends to frighten the neighbours!
I like to be in more of a flow state when I’m working
While I don’t always achieve my ideal flow state, a piece of music called Inward Harmony by Marcey Hamm helps me a lot. It’s perfect for when I need to concentrate. It has no words, no beat and no ‘tune’ as such.
Although my description makes it sound completely unappealing—it isn’t! It makes it much easier to remain in a state of equilibrium. That’s always a bonus when I’m trying to bash out a blog post.
I use music when I’m coaching too
When I’m coaching, funky tunes are my secret weapon for ‘jamming’ or disrupting negative thinking patterns. They can scramble unhelpful thoughts and inject a bit of lightness. In fact, by replaying the tune, the negative thinking becomes more and more difficult to access. Fast, funny tunes are particularly useful to help free people of phobias or anxiety.
And in training
I use calming, gentle music to help people get into a relaxed state. Melodies played at low volume keeps trainees in a learning state for completing exercises. And louder, upbeat playlists guide people back into a room after breaks. That way I don’t have to do a sheepdog impersonation and round everyone up!
Some of my playlists include:
• Upbeat
• Reggae 🤩 🇯🇲
• New age (relaxing/calming type music)
• Comedy (fast funny tunes for helping cure phobias or just recordings of skits from shows and films)
• Dance
• Easy Listening
• Learning (mainly baroque music and binaural beats)
• Party
• Rock
• Jazz
• Latin
• On the go (not quite as upbeat as my upbeat list!)
Next time you’re watching a movie, pay attention to the soundtrack and see if you can pick what’s about to happen from the music alone.
Your Turn: Build your own soundtrack for success
If you don’t have playlists designed for different tasks or feelings, now’s the time. Curate some go-to lists that are ready to pull you up, calm you down, or get you just focused enough to finish that big project without getting sidetracked by another cuppa.
Think about it—what music helps you reset after a stressful day? What tune lets you zone into deep work? Which tracks are guaranteed to make you feel unstoppable? Load them up on your phone or wherever you need them most, so when the next slump hits, you’ve got instant access to your own perfect mood-enhancing vibes.
Let me know your favourites in the comments below.
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Tags: listening, Managing mood and emotions, Self-confidence and self-esteem, Thinking and mindset
