SCORING A BETTER LIFE (Part 1 of 4)
How Music Makes Us Successful
Listening to our favorite sounds
Like waves lapping on the ocean,
Focuses our minds and bodies
And regulates our emotions.
Imagine lying flat and compact on the cool bed of an MRI machine. You start to wonder if maybe you are a bit claustrophobic as you are slowly drawn into the dark, tight chamber. There is not even enough space to eat a snack in there. Meanwhile the machine whirs obnoxiously. But then, you start to hear some of your favorite music playing. At this point, the MRI technician would see mini fireworks of pleasure going off in your mind, as you get chills — the good kind — down your back and goosebumps on your arms. You feel much better about the whole situation. These effects on brain activity and your physical and emotional responses are precisely the types of things that happen to a person taking a drug.[1] Music is essentially one of the oldest and safest drugs in existence.
Like our other perennial favorite legal drugs, caffeine and alcohol, music can serve several purposes in our lives. Let’s explore music’s role in creating the inspiration, focus, emotional regulation, and social connection that lead to success in life. What do…
