The power of music is undeniable. 

A song can transport us to a different place and time- the right chord stirring us into a frenzy or 

reducing us into a puddle of tears.

Each year, we spend millions collecting and streaming soundtracks to drown out the silence of monotony and apathy- music the perfect melody of sanity and a heavenly gift that often makes life just a little sweeter.   

But beyond the $26 Billion we spent last year, is there more to music than good times and escapism? 

Can we harness that potency to shift the trajectory of our health, behavior, and success?

Read on to find out. 

Vibrations of Healing 

Music’s relationship with the human body is complex- yet its healing properties have been used since the 1700s. Music therapy is an established profession with board-certified therapists that can help patients decrease anxiety, shift mood, and reduce pain receptors during cancer treatments. 

As recently as 2022, a meta-analysis of 26 studies found that music intervention resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in the quality of life of 779 participants.

Music therapies have been used to treat young refugees, people with personality disorders, and even Parkison disease, all with varying degrees of success.

While the best genre of music varies with the individual, The British Academy of Sound Therapy found some optimal times that can help you get your daily dose of music for whatever ails you:

• 13 minutes is the optimum time to use music to relax, release sadness, or regain focus
• Nine minutes is plenty to feed the soul and chase the blues away; something with a fast tempo is best.

Vibrations of Behavior

Music therapy for mental health is one thing, but can it change our behavior?

The body of studies concerning music as a behavior modifier is rare- but a 2020 by Alan Nichols and colleagues discovered an interesting link between music and people who subscribe to a religious community. 

The team set out to replicate the results of a 2016 study that used music (religious, secular, and white noise) to deter cheating behavior. 

Overall, music did not affect the participants. However, participants who reported attending religious services regularly decreased their dishonest behavior when primed by religious music.

Those who believed being religiously affiliated was inextricable with morality were the ones who modified their actions when prompted by the religious cue of music.

While these findings don’t signify much to the outside world, they speak volumes to Christians; perhaps the music we listen to has a more significant effect on our faith walk than we had previously thought.

Vibrations of Success

While some of our associations with music may be elusive, the relationship between music and intelligence is well documented. 

Studies reveal that “children who receive music training rank better in visuospatial abilities, language processing, verbal and reading abilities.” Furthermore, music is an excellent predictor of language ability, superior academic performances in adolescents, and higher IQ in adults.

There has also been a significant relationship between music and emotional intelligence. Participants who identified their preferred musical genres as pop, jazz, folk, classical, or gospel were found to have higher EQs than their punk-inclined counterparts. 

For its part, EQ has not only been identified as an essential quality in leadership according to Forbes but may also contribute to overall career success.  

Vibration implication

Our world is surrounded by music, so it’s no wonder that it affects our health, behavior, and success.

The findings on the effects of music are compelling to us as Christians- if for the mere fact that many of us continue to listen to the music we consumed before coming to Christ. 

If religious music can improve our behavior, could its counterparts open doors to our spiritual lives, leaving us vulnerable to attack? 

And if faith comes from listening (Romans 10:17), we can mobilize our liturgy to keep us continuously bathed in the Word of God. 

We were not promised an easy life but victory in Jesus Christ over serpents and powers of this age (Luke 10:19). 

Let us remind ourselves of His promises by walking to the tune of His holy vibrations rather than those of the world.