The connection between music, healing and self-love
Music is healing, it is vibrational energy that speaks to the soul and it has been therapeutic for me.
I had already been creating music 10 years prior to my first health challenge, but writing music became therapeutic in the sense that it helped me channel the pain and frustration of recurring physical symptoms. I would use it as a healing tool when working with therapists, diets and health supplements could only take me so far. At the onset of my health challenges, I was listening to a lot of the Eminem album “Recovery”. Which documents him overcoming addictions and battling his demons. There is also a track by artist and producer Black Milk called “What it’s Worth” and one line in particular reminds me that sometimes we have to prioritize our health over our music. “Artist about his craft but sometimes survival is bigger than art” I always revisit this line and it helps me to get into a positive space before creating. My health challenges have left me in various emotional, mental, and physical states over the years. Confusion, anger, pain, have all been feelings I have had to endure for long periods of time. Music has been the constant that has kept me going through these tough times. Whether that be in the midst of my intense healing, writing lyrics in a journal entry, or during my recovery playing a gig.
Music gives me purpose, and I am certain that I must share my story through it.
I am someone who hasn’t taken the conventional route in life, I keep getting knocked down, but each time I muster the strength to get back up. I find ways to take forward steps with my art even when the opposite is happening to me physically. My brand-new song that I just released is an example of this duality I experience. Love Myself: My New Song Debut This will be my most impactful song to date. When I am going through healing periods, my skin becomes so inflamed that it becomes extremely painful and hard to recognize myself. This song is a reminder to love myself through these moments, and to fully accept where I am. I used to look in the mirror and want to disassociate myself from what I saw, but that would only make the healing process more arduous and lengthier. Loving ourself sounds cliche, or a catch phrase used in the spiritual community. But it’s really important and not something someone else can do for us. Sometimes we have layers of trauma that need to be healed, before we can get to this point.
Loving ourself is trusting ourself and our intuition, knowing that we are constantly evolving. All the challenges we experience have the potential to make us stronger, putting us on the path to being our authentic selves.
Sometimes when we are trying to improve our health, we look for the most intricate remedies, when maybe it’s the intangible things that have the most impact. Start noticing how music shows up in your life. Music can be listened to and can be created for healing. Artists provide inspiration through lyrics and music that can help us get through a challenging time. As mentioned above, sometimes hearing just one line is powerful enough to give you a new perspective. When creating music, don’t put pressure on yourself to create an amazing song, just allow yourself to be in the moment and enjoy the process. Be authentic to where you are, how you are feeling.
Click here to watch the music video for Love Myself.
Click here to listen to Love Myself on your streaming service.
Vivek utilizes musical expression as a way of healing and as a vehicle to guide others toward wellness. When faced with a life changing ailment that saw him consult upwards of 20 doctors, he was forced to examine the darkest and most challenging parts of life and transmute them with his art.
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Unsinkable Storytelling Author: Vivek Mehmi