It’s something that has happened to me more times that I could count. I hear a song over the sound system in a store or on the radio and hours later I’m humming along to the familiar refrain. It happened to me today and it may have happened to you a few times too.
It’s all well and good until I stop and say “ew, these lyrics are not what I want to be affirming in my life.” While there are plenty of mainstream songs out there that can be an anthem of positivity and empowerment. There are many many more that are not. I think this matters because when we go around singing them in our heads or out loud we are making this a part of our lives.
Long ago, just after a big break up, there was a song about revenge all over the radio. I realized that when I heard this song it encouraged the mean thoughts I was having toward the person I had broken up with. I would find myself singing the song without the radio. As soon as I realized this, I made a new rule. If the song came on the radio, I changed the channel. If I caught myself singing the song, I turned on positive music or sang something else to clear it away. I didn’t want to wallow in vengeful/mean feelings towards this person, I wanted us to just move on with our lives.
I have become more vigilant over the years about the songs I listen to, sometimes to the annoyance of people who are sharing a car with me. But what I know is that songs stay in my head, sometimes for days, and I don’t want that unconscious hijacking of my thoughts. The old adage is that folks who sing pray twice, so it’s worth considering what messages you are affirming!
I have spent years building up a positive music library, so I have many songs to turn to when I need to shift the song on repeat in my mind. (One of my earliest memories was dancing along with a New Thought group’s tape when I was about 5). But there are plenty of musical opportunities out there for you too! Right now Empower Music and Arts, which gives the annual Posi music festival and awards, has dubbed November Posi(tive) Music Month. You an go to their website, sign up for free, and get a free positive music song download each day! http://www.empowerma.com/
You can also watch countless videos online of great Positive artists singing in churches and concerts all over. If you find you really like an artist, order a CD or download an album.
Noticing and filtering the music we listen to is one way to clear out the clutter in our minds and leave ourselves free to be our highest selves. While you might not be up for only posi music diet, (they encourage only posi music for the whole month) you can certainly get started with some free new positive music to add to your collection!
Blessings of peace as I dance along to the (posi) music in my head.
Rev. Rachel
PS Some (but not all) musicians to check out:
Faith Rivera, Daniel Nahmod, Jami Lula, Karen Drucker, Jana Stanfield, Karen Taylor Good, Devotion, Greg Tamblyn, JD Martin and Jan Garrett, Megan McDonough,Rickie Byars Beckwith and the Agape Choir, Teri Wilder, Richard Mekdeci, Harold Payne, StoweGood, Sue Riley, Jennifer Ferren, Bukeka Shoals, and many many more!