healing gracie

I love music...a lot. I love to listen to music and for the past few years of healing I've been trying to listen to music that is more positive and uplifting.

I believe that music has a profound impact on the way we think and view the world. That is something I have learned and come to believe over the past few years. Music (and other types of media) has a way of entering our minds in ways we can't comprehend. The rhythms, the beats, the lyrics of a song all have an influence on our minds in some way.

Many people would disagree and say that what they listen to has no effect on them...that a song that has crude language or sensual beats won't affect them if they just listen to it for just the enjoyment of it. That if they don't pay attention to the lyrics that it won't influence their thoughts. How wrong that is. Take for example someone who wants to exercise. Listening to music that has a fast tempo helps to get you "pumped" and ready for physical activity. Or think of the reverse...listening to music that has no tempo but smooth melodies for relaxation. In both scenarios your mental state is altered by what type of music you are listening to, and in different ways. Both influence the mental, which then influences the physical in some way, whether it be prepping the body for exercise or relaxation.

There is also the spiritual impact that music has. For those of you who do not know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormon). In this religion we believe that we can receive personal revelation and inspiration through the third member of the Godhead: the Holy Ghost (the other two members of the Godhead are Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ). The Holy Ghost is how Heavenly Father communicates with His children. Now, there are ways to help yourself to be more in tune with the Holy Ghost and there are ways you can hinder that communication. Music can either help or hinder your ability to be able to listen to the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost speaks "with a still, small voice." It's very subtle. Music that is very loud, or even crude, would drown out the promptings, the impressions, etc from the Holy Ghost.

Music is very powerful. Even God realizes that. There are many messages that can be communicated through music that cannot be communicated through normal speech. Those messages can be good or bad. I can look back on my healing journey and see how music has impacted me. Back when I was in middle school and high school I started to listen to goth-rock and symphonic rock music. Most of the songs were dark, about how life was all about pain and suffering...and they were just dark. The music was loud, with some intense guitar riffs. To sum it up, it was filled with intense emotion. I was drawn to this music because I could really relate to it with how I was feeling. I was feeling down, depressed, and I wasn't in a good place.

It wasn't until about two years ago that I decided to get rid of some of that music. I say some, because I'm still attached to some of it. Hey, I'm a work in progress. I am, however, slowly letting go of the dark music of my past and making room for more uplifting music in my life. And can I tell you, it had made a difference for me. The difference has been subtle, but I find my thinking to be changing somewhat in terms of how I view myself and the world. It's been hard to find some uplifting music, but with the help of friends, my counselor, and Pandora.com (thank you Pandora!) I've been able to find various artists that have really good music...and it's music that means something...it's real!

So, after that long-winded intro, I would like to start up something random: a song of the week. Every week I will try to post a link to a song that is uplifting and that has really helped me in my healing. This week's song comes from a band called BarlowGirl. They are a Christian band...and I just love them! They are probably my favorite band right now. Anyhoo, the song that is being featured this week is called "Sing Me a Love Song." I love, love, love, love this song. I really connect with this song in how I currently feel and how I hope to feel. I often try to sing it to myself on my down days when I don't feel loved. Enjoy!



Song: Sing Me a Love Song
Artist: BarlowGirl
Album: Love & War

Lyrics:
The tension is thick in the air making it hard to see
The fear of what is to come and what will become of me
I say a prayer, help me not run away
Will You please hold me?

Chorus:
And sing me a love song again
Say the words that heal my heart
Sing me Your love song and then
Let Your words remind me who I am

You never failed me before why do I feel betrayed
If I'd close my heart to You now the darkness would have its way
I crave Your voice, help me not fall away
Will You please hold me?

[Chorus]

Cause You are all I need
And all that I want is You with me
You are all I need
And all that I want is You with me

[Chorus]