The Medicine Behind Music

Your day starts with a jolt.

You forgot to set your alarm. You wake up late. That 9:00 a.m. meeting now looks more like 9:30. You rush out the door in a panic - starving, caffeinated, already behind.

Your back aches.

Your dog wedged between you, your partner, and your toddler (who wandered in at 3 a.m. after a nightmare) torqued your spine in ways you didn’t know were possible.

They’re worth it. Of course.
But still… your spine is not impressed.

You zig-zag onto the subway. People press in from every direction. Overstimulated and overwhelmed, you reach for the one thing you know will steady you.

Your earbuds.

You press play on your favorite morning playlist - a mix of jazz, classical, and uplifting modern songs. The subway begins to thin. You find a seat. You close your eyes. You take one slow breath.

Within a minute, your heartbeat softens.
Your mind slows.
Your nervous system recalibrates.

This is the medicine behind music.

The power of music to relax the body, quiet the mind, inspire the soul, and energize us when we need that extra push is very real.

We don’t even need the scientific proof - though it’s out there. We’ve lived it. We’ve felt it.

I’m speaking about the music that moves you from somewhere deep within. The song that carried you through loss. The melody that nudged you out for a walk when everything felt heavy. The harmony that helped you sleep when counting sheep wasn’t enough.

As someone who both plays music and writes original songs, I’ve experienced firsthand how music helps us grow. It connects us beneath the surface where sometimes words simply cannot reach.

Like movement, powerful music can make us cry, laugh, reflect, dream, and believe in ourselves again.

Certain styles, especially classical - have been used to support those navigating depression, PTSD, anxiety, and ADHD. Music fills places of worship, shapes classrooms, exposes us to different cultures, and marks our most meaningful milestones - from weddings to celebrations of lives well lived.

I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t enjoy music. Preferences vary, of course. But everyone has felt its power at some point.

If you’re going through a challenging time, try using music intentionally - as a meditative tool to reset your nervous system.

Create playlists that support the mood of your day:

• A morning playlist that sets a positive tone.

• A calming evening playlist to help you unwind.

• An energizing playlist to move your body - whether that’s dancing in your living room, sweating at the gym, or jogging in the park.

Over the decades, both creating music and immersing myself in others’ work has carried me through some of the most difficult chapters of my life.

Just like mindful movement, music can be medicine.

It helps regulate the nervous system.
It supports emotional release.
It connects us to ourselves and to each other.

So, the next time you’re having a tough day, press play.

Let music brighten your mood.
Let it soften your body.
Let it detox worry from the inside out.

And let it move you from the inside first.