Music can really connect us with our emotions. An mp3 player can be like a time machine, transporting us to memories of experiences with people in another time, another place, and the feelings we felt. Recently a song came on my mp3 player, and I was once again gliding around the roller skating rink alongside my little boy while Whitney Houston sang “I Will Always Love You” as only she could. The words in the chorus so exactly capture the depth and strength of my love for my son.
One of the most popular posts here is about Identifying Emotions. It can sometimes be difficult to know what we are feeling, if we can access our feelings at all. Pain can cause us to numb our emotions, but the painful emotions are not all that is numbed. It can difficult to explore emotions, sometimes help may be needed. If you haven’t already seen the Brené Brown TED Talk on the Power of Vulnerability, I recommend it. Learn more about managing emotions with resources about emotional intelligence. Then consider exploring how the power of music can help to connect us with emotions.
Cindy Hoedel notes this connection in her article, “Music Makes My World Go ‘Round,” in the Kansas City Star Magazine. She also describes the power of music to lift a mood: “I use music like medicine, coffee or alcohol to induce good vibrations or calm the spinning wheel in my brain.” She mentions studies that show “The therapeutic value of music has been confirmed by research.”
Learn from the Experts:
Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Personal Development*
*But Didn’t Know You Needed to Ask
I read this post from Michael Hyatt and I’ve been thinking about it ever since: Am I an expert on what I write about? Well, um, no. A lot of what I’ve learned has been in the school of hard knocks. (Although I have read and studied about a lot of it!) But can I point you to some Experts? Heck, yeah! So this week I’ve been at work compiling a list of experts for a guide to personal development.
For all areas, I asked myself the question: “If you could only read one book, or listen to one expert, which one would it be?” In many cases, there was a clear stand-out. But in some cases, it was impossible to pick only one. For example, there are far too many in the area of Home Helpers to pick only one. I’m certain there are good choices on the list, but I welcome suggestions for additions, especially in the areas of Financial, Recreational, Physical & Spiritual. The experts vary widely in how active they are on the Internet and how much they freely share. Some are sadly no longer with us. Most have at least one book, which you can probably borrow for free from your local library. So there’s no excuse not to learn!
A Year of Personal Development is just one activity a week, so it’s simple to do no matter how busy you are. Why not get growing and try just one simple activity?
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
Daily PlanIt 
Leave a Reply