How music can heal your pain and motivate you at the same time
Here are 10 tips:
Tip #1: Find a playlist that can be put on shuffle and will relax you and keep you going
These playlists should be filled with songs of all the genres that you love with messages of encouragement, empowerment and eloquence!
Tip #2: Allow yourself a RAGE playlist
A rage playlist is when you list all of the “I hate”, “I’m mad because”, “You suck”, and “Life is awful”. Life does sometimes suck and we don't always want to feel that we are required to have rainbows and lollipops constantly. Rage on guys. Life isn’t always perfect.
Tip #3: Find music with a steady pace for YOU
My workout playlists consist of Hamilton, In The Heights, Michael Jackson and more. Unfortunately for everyone at the gym, they can either judge or join my dance party. Find music with a consistent tempo for you to walk, run, or do continual motion if that works for you.
Tip #4: Find music that distracts you
As a musical theatre person and a musician, there are so many composers that challenge me to think and push the boundaries of what music is. Stephen Sondheim, Rachmaninov, Ravel, Alan Menken, John Williams. Not all your music needs to have words. Focus on different instruments and lines. Could be a fun game to play to distract you.
Tip #5: Find earpieces that work for you
This sounds crazy but find earpieces that work for you. Bose, Apple AirPods, Earbuds, Beats. You cannot completely enjoy music with crappy headphones. Find the ones that work for you. There are incredible wireless headphones. Make sure you try to take a listen before you purchase. Also check your phone’s settings for hearing accessibility.
Tip #6: Find a podcast that you will enjoy
PODCASTS. This is a new world where podcasts have made a huge resurgence. There’s TEDTalks which I love, my own shameless plug Triple Threats & Beyond, amazing motivational and educational podcasts that are anywhere from 5 minutes to 55 minutes in length.
Tip #7: Try your hand at writing and creating music
Try your hand at writing and creating music. Often times the greatest songs, lyrics and melodies come when we're hurting the most, when we feel like our lives are falling apart, maybe have your phone handy and write some lyrics or words in your notes and voice memo some melodies that are floating around in your head. As silly as that sounds, I’m almost positive that’s how Taylor Swift’s songs are born. Look how many Grammy Awards she has from her platform of expression.
Tip #8: SHARE YOUR MUSIC
Share the music you love, share the music you create. Share the music you appreciate. Share the music that puts you in a place you are proud of.
Tip #9: Find friends that share your interests
Share your love of music together. Make music together. Create together. Sometimes making music can be fun by yourself but when you find incredibly minded humans that can share in your love of music, Don't let that go!!! Enjoy that.
Tip #10: Go back to your childhood
As someone who loves music from his childhood and is still very much connected to his childhood musical heroes, create yourself a playlist. Theme songs from television shows you used to watch growing up, movie soundtracks, cast recordings of Broadway musicals that you listened to as a kid. Don't be afraid to regress and remember where you have come from and what life was like when you were younger. Even if your life wasn’t the happiest, I bet you can remember a song from those times when you were smiling and singing with a loved one.
Conclusion
Thank you all so much for taking the chance to read these 10 tips. As always, these may not work for you. Maybe all 10 will work, maybe a few will work, maybe one will work and maybe none will work. That’s okay. These are just suggestions and thoughts on ways to try and help yourself cope with the daily frustrations of living with a chronic illness.
If any of these do work for you, please don't hesitate to reach out and let me know. I’d love to hear about it. My twitter handle is @roysamuelgeorge and my instagram is @roysamuelgeorge and @sbs_spoonie123. You can also find me on Facebook. Thank you again for your time. Looking forward to connecting with you!
