When I lost my smile, music also faded from my life.

Music resonates with our souls, and we consciously and unconsciously have emotional responses to auditory cues. Hollywood is well aware of this emotional response. Movies become comical or terrifying, not always because of the visuals, but often from the musical scores linked to the scenes.

When I did a bit of research regarding the link between humans emotional health and music, I discovered that the sound frequency of 528 Hz registers with humans as a soothing symphony. I also discovered that the sounds of nature have been measured at 528 Hz. A music teacher would be able to explain this in more detail; however, my limited research discovered that Solfeggio frequencies are also nicknamed the “love frequency”, and many famous songs fall into this compositional frequency of 528 Hz.

This theory explores the concept that music resonates with your heart and soul. Music is healing. Music can communicate a message void of a spoken or written language.

Without exploring the deeply scientific aspects of music and its link to human emotions, I would like to simplify this idea into the fact that music can alter one’s emotional state.

Listening to music was one of the first tips that helped me crack open my “Window of Tolerance”. With this suggestion of adding music to my daily routine, I found that I needed to consciously choose to turn on music. I had lost music in my life. My desire to engage with music was gone.

As I started to listen to music more frequently, my natural response was to start singing along and allowing my body to move in rhythm with the music (aka dancing). Honestly, this ability to respond to the music took some time. Just turning on music consistently was a conscious first step that took effort, thought and choice.

I cannot sing or dance well. Both are reserved for the privacy of my own home. Honestly, there is something freeing about dancing when no one is watching (especially when you are a really bad dancer). My favourite time to dance is in my kitchen, music blaring, dancing with the least judgemental creatures that exist – my dogs. The level of joy is contagious, and I think they have as much fun as me, tails wag and lots of joyous barking happens. If you have been struggling to smile, the fact that you are busting dance moves (that no one should ever see) should make you grin ear to ear.

Opening the Window of Tolerance Challenge One: Listen to music three times this week, and dance your ass off at least once. Don’t just put music on in the background, take 5-10 mins for yourself and actually listen. Sit and listen. Move and listen. Feel the beat. Enjoy the sounds and recharge your soul.

Photo Credit: Eric Nopanen, Unsplash