What happened when I started listening more intentionally

This spiritual journey that I have been on has been leading me down paths that I never would have considered before. I find myself trying new things because the old “stuff” that I consumed no longer makes me feel the same. In some cases, it actually leaves me feeling a little icky afterward. Music has been one of the biggest—and hardest—changes for me, mainly because the old version of myself is still trying to regain control.

The Realization I had After Becoming a Parent

When you start to intentionally live your life and put thought and positive energy into every inch of it, you naturally begin to question whether the people you allow into your world are doing the same. The same can be said for the content you consume, including the music you listen to.

I didn’t realize the impact music had on me until I had my daughter.

I noticed that whenever she was in the car with me—which is about 95% of the time—I found myself paying close attention to the lyrics. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t listening to anything overly provocative, sexual, violent, or anything that would have a negative influence on her.

Then it hit me.

If I wanted that for my daughter, why wouldn’t I want that for myself?

On the days she wasn’t with me, I found myself listening to those old songs again and realizing that I wouldn’t necessarily be happy if some of those lyrics manifested in my own life.

Born in 1994, I grew up on 90s hip-hop and R&B. I can probably recite most of the popular songs from the early 2000s as well. While there were certainly positive songs during that era, much of the mainstream music was heavily sexualized, suggestive, degrading toward women, or centered around violence and materialism.

Listening to those classics again as an adult, I realized that many of them probably weren’t songs I should have been listening to as a child.

Can Music Influence How We Feel?

Listening to music is almost like willingly stepping into another state of mind.

A song can change your mood in the blink of an eye. With the right beat, lyrics, and energy from the artist, you can instantly be transported back to another time in your life. Sometimes you can even feel the emotions it took for the artist to create the song in the first place.

Some of the greatest songs ever written came from artists transforming their pain into art.

At the same time, we’ve also heard artists openly admit that they got into music for money and were willing to create whatever would sell. Then there are the stories of record labels exploiting artists and prioritizing profit over creativity.

The more I thought about it, the more intentional I wanted to become about what I allowed into my mind on a daily basis.

When I think of music filled with positivity, good intentions, and messages that people of all ages can enjoy, I think of Michael Jackson.

I know thousands of artists could fit into this category, but he is one of the strongest examples from my childhood. Even today, toddlers seem to go through a phase where they discover Michael Jackson and instantly love his music.

To me, that’s the sign of timeless art.

My Unexpected Introduction to Classical Music

I say all of this because I eventually found a genre of music that allows me to focus, makes me feel good, and surprisingly, my daughter enjoys it as well.

What’s funny is that I used to play this music while I was pregnant with her, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Even while writing this article, I have it playing in the background.

Classical music is a genre I keep returning to over and over again.

My curiosity about classical music actually started through a psychic medium that I follow online. She often spoke about being intentional with what we listen to and paying attention to how different types of music affect us emotionally.

She made enough posts about it that I finally decided to see what she was talking about.

The Composers That Pulled Me In

One of the names she mentioned was Beethoven.

It was a name I recognized immediately, but beyond that, I knew very little about him.

What surprised me most was how emotional his music made me feel.

I never realized it was possible for music without lyrics to tell such a complete story. His compositions take me on a journey and somehow bring me safely back by the end.

There are moments that feel hopeful, moments that feel heavy, and moments that make me stop whatever I’m doing just to listen.

Mozart

Mozart is another composer that I am growing to love.

The deeper I go into classical music, the more talented composers I continue to discover, and honestly, it makes me a little sad that I’m only being exposed to this world now.

But as the saying goes, everything happens for a reason.

Maybe I wasn’t supposed to discover this genre until this chapter of my life.

How I listen to Classical Music

I consume most of my classical music through YouTube because I love the visuals just as much as the music itself.

Lately, I’ve been watching a channel called DW Classical Music, which uploads full classical music concerts and performances.

They also have documentaries that I haven’t explored yet, but they are definitely on my list.

If you’re new to classical music and looking for a place to start, their channel is worth checking out.

I usually keep the concert playing on one half of my screen while I work on the other.

Watching the conductors is fascinating.

You can see their passion in every movement. The excitement, the joy, the guidance—it almost feels like storytelling through motion. They aren’t saying a word, yet somehow they’re communicating with an entire orchestra.

Why Classical Music Feels Different to Me

One of my favorite things about watching these performances is hearing every individual instrument come together to create something larger than itself.

It probably sounds silly, but I genuinely love hearing all of these musicians working together to create something beautiful.

I often find myself thinking about the dedication it took for each person to master their instrument.

The years of practice.

The consistency.

The discipline.

The commitment to becoming great at a craft.

It’s inspiring to watch.

In my opinion, classical music is what art sounds like.

It tells a story without saying a single word. It doesn’t need lyrics to communicate emotion because you can feel it.

When I only want the music without visuals, I usually listen to Halidon Music on YouTube. There are countless channels dedicated to classical music, so it’s really just a matter of finding the ones that resonate with you.

What’s Next On My Journey

 I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of classical music, and that is what excites me the most.

With only one foot through the door, I can already see there are countless more doors waiting to be opened. Some of the greatest composers in history are still waiting to be discovered.

Lately, I’ve found myself reading through the YouTube comments because people are constantly recommending new composers and performances to explore.

Music is powerful.

Now more than ever, I think it’s important to be intentional about what we listen to and what we allow into our minds.

I’m not fully denouncing R&B or hip-hop. There are incredible artists within both genres, and I know there is music out there that aligns with where I am today.

But for now, I feel called to explore something different.

My next goal is to attend a classical music concert in person so I can experience the energy of the room for myself.

Fortunately, I live in an area where that is easily accessible.

So expect more posts on this topic in the near future.

Happy listening.