How to Quickly Quiet Your Mind: The Magical Playlist

While we all want to experience a deeper peace in our lives, most of us have little time to practice spiritual disciplines. As a teacher of workshops on happiness and spirituality, I’ve looked for quick ways to help people to quiet their minds.

In general, traditional meditation techniques take a long time to really have a major impact on people. Therefore, I’ve experimented with many other approaches for helping people let go of their worries, and instead melt into the serenity of their heart and soul. Of the many different things I’ve tried, I’ve found one formula to be so simple and effective that I heartily recommend it to everyone. I call this method the Magical Playlist.

Play a Little Song for Me...

In essence, the Magical Playlist is simply an assortment of your favorite, most heart-oriented and meaningful songs conveniently placed on one playlist on your digital music player or Smartphone. By having a playlist (or two) of all your favorite songs, you can easily have access to deep feelings of love and peace. Your personal favorite songs have the ability to move you into your heart, uplift your spirit, and help you feel a depth of peace.

In my own case, I originally created two magical playlists. On one are all my favorite instrumental songs. I use this playlist whenever I don’t want to have to engage my mind in listening to lyrics. It’s amazing how, after hearing just one of these songs, I enter into a totally different mood. On my second playlist, I have all my favorite heart-oriented songs that contain lyrics I particularly like. Often, I’ll listen to one of these songs whenever I desire to feel peaceful inside, or as a way to get me in the mood for meditation.

Unwinding to Your Favorite Tunes

How to Quickly Quiet Your Mind: The Magical PlaylistA man named Frank came to see me complaining of marital difficulties. As he entered my office, it was clear that he was very tense. He told me that his wife was fed up with him because of how stressed he was from his job as an air traffic controller. When he went home each evening, he’d spend the first three hours in front of the tube—just trying to unwind from his job. By the time he started to feel a bit relaxed and sociable, his wife was ready to go to bed.


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After asking him some questions, I learned that he enjoyed classical music. I suggested he make a playlist of his favorite classical works, and listen to a couple of songs in his car before entering his house each evening. When he returned to my office the following week, he told me that his wife reported, “You’ve become a new man.” Apparently, ten minutes of classical music helped Frank unwind much more effectively than three hours of TV. By the time he walked into his house each night, Frank was relaxed, refreshed, and emotionally available for his wife.

Don't Sing the Blues

For many people, music is an easy and amazingly effective way to become centered. I have coached many of my clients to carefully choose the type of music to play before key events in their life. Before an important presentation, they might choose a favorite rock ’n roll song. Before a romantic night on the town with their mate, they may choose a favorite love song. Before a time of meditation or prayer, they may choose some New Age or quiet piano music. By knowing what mood you’d like to get into, and choosing an appropriate piece of music to assist in that process, many people find they can successfully manage their moods much more effectively than ever before.

Of all the possessions I own, the music I carry in my iPhone is most treasured. By listening to these songs, I have almost immediate access to any feeling I want—without any cost, and no known side effects! In making the playlists, I looked through all the songs I own, and carefully selected the ones that have always had the most impact on me. Recently, I even created a couple of playlists of my favorite rock ’n roll songs. It was a fun process.

Taking a Instant Musical Vacation

Over the years, my two original playlists have blossomed into seven—two rock ’n roll, three heart-oriented, and two musical compositions that help me feel peaceful. At least one time each day, I take a break from my activities and turn to my iPhone, tune into the music, and drop out of my mind’s constant concerns. Whenever I meditate, I always listen to at least one song to help me get quiet inside.

Try it — you’ll love it! After your five to ten-minute vacation, your mind will be clearer and your soul more soothed. With hardly any effort at all, you’ll find that you’re more centered in your heart and better able to handle whatever life throws your way.

©2014 by Jonathan Robinson. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Conari Press,
an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. www.redwheelweiser.com.

Article Source

Find Happiness Now: 50 Shortcuts for Bringing More Love, Balance, and Joy into Your Life by Jonathan Robinson.

Find Happiness Now: 50 Shortcuts for Bringing More Love, Balance, and Joy into Your Life
by Jonathan Robinson.

Click here for more info or to order this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Jonathan Robinson, author of: Find Happiness Now, and numerous other books.Jonathan Robinson is a psychotherapist, best-selling author of nine books, and a professional speaker from Northern California. His work has appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as dozens of other publications. In addition, Mr. Robinson has made numerous appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN, as well as other national TV talk shows. He is the author of The Experience of God, Life's Big Questions, Instant Insight; Real Wealth; Shortcuts to Bliss; Shortcuts to Success, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Awakening Your Spirituality, and Terror Proof Your Mind and Money. He can be found online at: http://findinghappiness.com.

Watch a video: Jonathan Robinson talks about Kindness (on Oprah)