by Shraddha Chandwadkar
Music has been an integral part of my life since childhood. I shared a strong bond with my grandparents and visited them often during summer vacations. My grandmother sang devotional songs every Thursday evening to worship the Lord. Listening to her soulful and devotional voice connected me to the divine feeling of oneness. My mother taught me devotionals too. The self-awareness of how certain beats, sounds, and lyrics moved my soul started growing within me. I was fortunate to learn Hindustani classical vocal and sitar (a traditional string instrument from India) for a couple of years from a wonderful teacher. I couldn’t nurture my interest in singing and playing music as much as I would have liked as other priorities took over. However, my appreciation for music has never faded.
In 2005, I came across a book named, “Tune Your Brain: Using Music to Manage Your Mind Body and Mood” by Elizabeth Miles. It is said to be the first scientific research-based book that shows how different types of music from classical to country, hip hop, soft rock to pop can help to energize, motivate, heal, control over-eating, and more. Research shows that music can rewire the brain's neural connections and bring about a significant positive change in one’s life.
The Impact of Music on Self-Esteem:
1. Creative Expression through music: Creating music by singing, composing or playing can have a profound effect on self-esteem. The act of creation fosters self-confidence, especially when you see the growth and improvement over time.
2. Music as a mirror for emotions: Music can help us express our emotions of sadness, joy, frustration, or triumph. Hence it can serve as a a mirror to accept our emotions as the first step towards self-empowerment.
3. Empowerment through Lyrics: Messages in song lyrics have a direct impact on how we view ourselves. Empowering songs with messages of self-love, healing, upliftment, resilience, and courage can inspire feelings of self-worth. For example, songs like ‘Happy’ by Pharell Williams, ‘Here Comes the Sun’ by the Beatles, ‘Stronger’ by Kelly Clarkson, ‘Roar’ by Katy Perry, ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera and ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ by Johnny Nash are some wonderful songs that inspire and empower.
4. Boosting confidence through movement: Along with listening to music moving to the tunes and beats can help release stress and clear emotional blockages. The physical act of moving the body to music improves body image, releases tension and enhances self-esteem.
5. Community: Music activities like band, choir, and concerts bring people together. This establishes a feeling of warmth and connectedness.
Ways to use Music to boost Self-Esteem:
1. Create an empowering playlist: Curate a playlist of empowering, uplifting and happy songs. Pay attention to the lyrics and ensure they are positive and make you feel confident and worthy. Listening to these songs when you are feeling down will uplift and empower you.
2. Sing Along your favorite songs: Singing can generate powerful feel-good hormones and help relieve you of any stress or tension you may be feeling.
3. Write meaningful songs: Write a song that makes you happy or change the lyrics or tune of a sad song to make it happy.
4. Use music as Daily Affirmation: Using positive lyrics as affirmations can help boost self-confidence and uplift your mood and health.
Content that empowers and heals is important more than ever in these times of war and hatred. Let us create and use music to uplift the consciousness on Earth to the best of our abilities.
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