Remember when we were teenagers and we had a mix tape for every occasion? Yes, I realize I am dating myself with that statement- but I am a child of the 80's, dammit. The running joke in my family is that I have 73 old tapes labeled "Keisha's Funky Songs". My girlfriends and I would play this tape while we were getting ready to go out and in the car on the way. There were tapes for every occasion- "Beach Music", "Dance Mix", "Car Tunes", and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" Break up with a boyfriend? Just play Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" really loud a few thousand times until your neighbors beg you to take him back.
Why did we go to all of that effort? Because music can put us in a mood. Mood music, right? Now, we have playlists on our Ipod- but we mainly use those for working out. Sometimes for cleaning- I enjoy mopping to Journey. Well, not exactly enjoy, but- it makes the task more tolerable. I realized how much I missed music when I started listening to it again while I was getting ready in the morning. My husband bought me this little speaker set for my Ipod for Christmas- and ever since then, I have been rockin out while drying my hair and brushing my teeth. I see the effect it has on my mood, and I wonder how I forgot to use this amazing Prozac-like tool.
As soon as I rediscovered this, I decided that I needed a theme song. You know, like Rocky...or Ally McBeal. I thought that if I came up with my own song that motivated me- I could conquer the world! So, after months of serious deliberation, I came up with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY0tsKCB4lc&feature=related. Yeah, it's disco. So? Were you expecting opera? Puhleezz! Now I play this song whenever I want to get into my zone- and it works- every single time.
So, knowing how well it has worked for me-I ask my clients to find a theme song for themselves. Not only do they feel triumphant when they find their song, but they thoroughly enjoy the process of finding it. Once you find your theme song, hang onto it as long as it feels good. Feel free to change it when you want- or find a theme song for any emotion you want to evoke.
Here's how to find your theme song...
1) Listen to music
2) See what energizes you
3) Wait to see which song gets stuck in your head
4) Analyze how you feel when you hear it
5) Repeat until satisfied
Finally, something that makes us feel good that is healthy, cheap, and easy. Let me know what you come up with. Now rock on with your bad self.
