“Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here!”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
I am pumped up about music today. While visiting friends, a couple, in Walla Walla, we attended a local concert dubbed "Good Vibrations" (in which the husband performed). The songs were primarily from the sixties. John and I could not contain ourselves. Our heads were bobbing, our feet were tapping, our hands seemed to be clapping of their own accord. And we were not alone in this whole-hearted, whole-body response.
Music can help us on our journey to the good life. For ninety-five percent of the population, music evokes at least 13 different feelings. Want to jump start your energy, kick your courage into gear, calm down - find your inner Yoda, expand your joy? Try some music. Music is like magic when you think about it. And it works fast.
Here is a fascinating interactive map you use to understand the concept and your own emotional response to music. It was devised by the people at The Greater Good in a research project involving 2500 people in China and the United States. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_emotions_can_music_make_you_feel
The tune I am humming today is the final song from Good Vibrations - Put a Little Love in Your Heart. I am thinking it could be a good theme song for journeying to the good life following the way of compassion.
This particular (Put a Little Love) song is also perfect for liberating positive emotions (probably even more so if you were a child of the Viet Nam era). Remember positive emotions in general can help us learn better, make better decisions, have stronger relationships, be more creative, strengthen our resilience, and even support our health. The lyrics can help keep us focused on our mission. Click on the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEg4mZ1Niw8 , let Anne Murray's music do its work.
Think of your fellow man Lend him a helping hand Put a little love in your heart
You see it's getting late Oh, please don't hesitate Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place And the world will be a better place For you and me You just wait and see
Another day goes by Still the children cry Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know We won't let hatred grow Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world) Will be a better place All the world (and the world) Will be a better place For you (for you) And me (and me) You just wait (just wait) And see Wait and see
Take a good look around And if you're looking down Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide Kindness will be your guide Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world) Will be a better place And the world (and the world) Will be a better place For you (for you) And me (and me) You just wait (just wait) And see
People now, put a little love in your heart Each and every day Put a little love in your heart There's no other way Put a little love in your heart It's up to you Put a little love in your heart Come on and Put a little love in your heart You've got to Put a little love in your heart
We can use music to warm our hearts, to ignite our sparks of compassion, kindness, and love and foster our individual and collective well-being.
How might we use music to journey to the good life?