Busy parents juggling work and wellness, caregivers managing family needs, and professionals carrying life changes into every meeting often reach for a phone without thinking, then wonder why the body feels tense, and the mind feels loud. The core tension is simple: technology stress impact builds through constant checking, scrolling, and switching, even when nothing is “wrong.” Over time, that autopilot loop can create digital disconnection, numb emotional wellbeing challenges, and make adult stress management feel harder than it should. A more mindful technology use can bring attention back to what’s actually being felt in the moment.

Understanding Mindful Tech Use

Mindful tech use means you interact with your phone on purpose, not by reflex. In plain terms, mindful technology use is noticing why you reach for a device, then choosing what you actually want from it.

This matters because purpose brings you back to yourself. When you decide what your screen time is for, your mind steadies, and your feelings get easier to hear. That makes simple music habits, like one calming track or a short guided listen, land more deeply.

I think of it like picking the song before you press play. Instead of opening an app and drifting, you choose a playlist that matches your mood and helps it soften. That small shift can make your body feel safer, and your attention feel less scattered. A few gentle swaps can turn scrolling time into calming music, reflective prompts, and guided listens.

Swap the Scroll: 7 Mindful Digital Replacements That Actually Help

When I catch myself scrolling on autopilot, it’s usually not because I want more information; it’s because I want relief. The goal isn’t a full digital detox; it’s choosing purpose on purpose and turning your phone into something that supports you.

1. Do a 60-second “name it to tame it” check-in: Before you open a social app, pause and type one sentence in your notes: “Right now I feel ___ and I need ___.” Keep it simple, tired/comfort, wired/quiet, lonely/connection. This tiny moment of mindfulness interrupts the loop that can feed problematic habits, and research on how mindfulness is negatively associated with smartphone overuse helps explain why this micro-pause can matter.
2. Swap your feed for a 3-song calming set: Make a mini-playlist you only use when you feel pulled into passive scrolling. Aim for slower songs (think “soft, steady, predictable”), and start with just three tracks so it doesn’t become another endless browse. The “why” is simple: your nervous system likes cues of safety, and repeating the same short set trains your body to settle faster.
3. Try a 5-minute guided listen instead of a 5-minute scroll: Search for a short audio track that leads you through breathing, a body scan, or gentle grounding while you listen. Put your phone face down and treat it like a little speaker, not a slot machine. This works because it gives your brain one clear job: follow the voice/music, so you’re less likely to drift into mental wandering that can leave you feeling more frazzled.
4. Use a focus soundtrack as a work “start button”: When you’re avoiding a task, scrolling feels easier than beginning. Pick a single instrumental or nature soundtrack and press play only when you’re about to start a 10-minute focus sprint (set a timer). Pairing one sound with one intention trains your attention, and it often turns “I can’t focus” into “I can do ten minutes.”
5. Replace comments with a reflective prompt: Keep a note titled “Two good questions” and rotate prompts like: “What’s actually stressing me?” and “What would make the next hour gentler?” Answer in 3 bullet points, no essays. Reflective digital content counts as mindful tech use when it reconnects you to your priorities instead of pulling you away from them.
6. Create a “digital porch light” home screen: Put your calm tools on page one: music, a notes widget, a breathing timer, and one meaningful photo. Move social apps to the last page or into a folder called “Later,” so you feel the extra step. This is a stress reduction technique disguised as design, making the supportive choice the easiest choice.
7. Try the “one-tab rule” for intentional browsing: If you truly want to read or watch something, choose one piece, full-screen it, and finish it before opening anything else. If you feel the urge to hop, write the urge down (“I want novelty”) and return to the one thing you chose. This protects focus improvement strategies from getting hijacked by infinite options.

Small swaps like these add up, especially when you pair them with a soothing listening space that makes your device feel more peaceful every time you pick it up.

Build a Soothing Listening Ritual with The River of Calm

To support that shift, a gentle listening hub can help.

When you are trying to use music to regulate stress, the hardest part is often the first 30 seconds. A beginner-friendly tool matters because it removes decision fatigue and makes it easier to return to yourself instead of chasing the next hit of novelty. That is the heart of mindful technology use.

That is where The River of Calm fits naturally. It offers soothing digital content you can reach for on purpose, so your phone becomes a steady doorway into grounding audio rather than a trigger for endless scrolling. If you want a simple ritual, you can open it, pick one calming track, set a short timer, and let your shoulders drop.

If you are ready, let this be the cue that leads into the next practice.

Mindful Tech and Stress: Common Questions

Q: How can technology be used intentionally to promote emotional and mental calm?
A: I treat my phone like a tool I “turn on” for one purpose, then “turn off” again. Start by setting a tiny intention like “one calming song” and a 5 to 10 minute limit before you unlock. Research on mindful technology use suggests it can buffer the impact of negative emotional content.

Q: What are some mindful digital experiences that can replace passive scrolling to reduce stress?
A: Choose something with a beginning and an end: a single track, a short breath timer, or a guided body scan. If you want a creative reset, use a structured prompt in an AI art generator for 3 minutes, then stop and notice how your body feels; those exploring generating artwork with AI can treat it as the same kind of bounded activity.

Q: How does mindful use of technology support spiritual reconnection and self-awareness?
A: When you use tech on purpose, you create space to hear your own inner tone again. Try pairing a soothing playlist with a simple question: “What do I need right now?” Then jot one sentence in your notes app and close it.

Q: What strategies help transform technology from a distraction into a tool for relaxation and focus?
A: Make the path easy: put calming audio on your home screen and move social apps off it. Use a timer, silence nonessential notifications, and keep one repeatable ritual you can do even on busy days.

Q: How can I use soothing content from The River of Calm to create a more peaceful relationship with my devices?
A: Decide your “why” first, like easing tension before bed or resetting after work. Pick one track, set a short timer, and place your phone face down while you listen. If you feel the urge to browse, return to the sound and let that be your stopping cue.

Pick one tiny intention today, and let it be your gentle reset.

Choose One Calm Ritual to Make Technology Feel Supportive Again

It’s easy for a phone to start feeling like a constant tug-of-war, half comfort, half noise, especially when stress is already high. The shift is treating technology as something to engage with on purpose, using small intentions so it supports relaxation with tech and builds self-awareness through digital use. Over time, hopeful mindful tech habits create positive tech engagement that leaves more quiet in the mind and less scatter in the body. Mindful tech isn’t about using less, it’s about using it with care. Tonight, choose one small ritual, set a simple intention, add a gentle time limit, and let one focused prompt guide the moment. That steady intentional technology motivation matters because it rebuilds trust, resilience, and a calmer relationship with your own attention.

Busy parents juggling work, caregiving, and sleep that never feels long enough often want personal transformation, but the idea of reinventing everything can sound like one more demand. The core tension is real: stress and anxiety drain motivation, major life changes shake identity, and adult self-improvement starts to feel like a luxury reserved for calmer people. Yet empowerment through reinvention doesn’t require a brand-new personality; it starts with beginner wellness methods that restore a sense of choice. With the right stress reduction strategies, positive energy cultivation becomes a daily practice, not a distant finish line.

Understanding the Calm Foundation for Change

Reflection is simply noticing what you feel and what you need without judging it. Emotional balance means you can still choose your next step even when life feels loud, because you can manage your impulses and emotions rather than being pulled by them.

This matters because stress makes every “new habit” feel like extra work. When your nervous system settles, your mind gets clearer and your choices feel more like yours. Even simple calming tools can help, since stress-related cortisol spikes can affect sleep and focus.

Picture unloading the dishwasher after a long day, and your chest feels tight. You press play on The River of Calm, a soothing global online music channel, and let the sound slow your breathing. Two minutes later, you feel reset enough to respond, not react.

How to Reinvent Yourself With a Simple Music Routine

Reinvention feels lighter when you pair it with music that calms your body first, then guides your choices. This process helps busy adults reduce stress and build positive energy through small, repeatable actions that take just minutes.

1. Set one intention while a song begins. Start with a 2 to 5-minute track you find soothing, and use the first 30 seconds to pick one clear intention, such as “I will be more patient today” or “I will take one step toward something new.” Keep it tiny on purpose so your nervous system stays on your side, not in fight-or-flight.

2. Name and loosen one limiting belief. While the music plays, write one sentence that drains you, like “I always mess this up” or “It is too late for me.” Treat it as a thought, not a fact, because false and self-limiting beliefs can quietly block goals and happiness.

3. Reframe with one piece of evidence and learn one micro-skill. Ask yourself Is This Belief Actually True? and list one real example that contradicts the story, even if it is small. Then learn one micro-skill in under 10 minutes that matches your intention, like a new chord, a breathing pattern, or a simple rhythm you can tap at your desk.

4. Choose uplifting connections and take one small risk. Make a quick “more of this, less of this” list of people, media, and conversations, and choose one uplifting connection to lean into today. Then take one gentle risk while your playlist keeps you steady, such as sending the message, signing up for the class, or sharing your idea, even if you're not perfectly ready.

5. End with a win ritual to lock in momentum. When the song ends, say out loud one win you earned today and one next step you will repeat tomorrow. This trains your brain to look for progress, which makes reinvention feel safe enough to keep going.

Music-Backed Habits for Calm, Steady Reinvention

Habits matter because reinvention is rarely one big leap; it is a steady rhythm you return to. When you pair quick music cues with simple reflection, you give your body a repeatable way to downshift stress and build positive energy without overthinking it.

Two-Song Reset

● What it is: Play one calming track, then one upbeat track while tidying one small area.

● How often: Daily, or anytime your mood dips.

● Why it helps: It shifts your state fast and creates visible progress.

One-Line Growth Reframe

● What it is: Write a growth mindset sentence while a chorus repeats.

● How often: Daily.

● Why it helps: It trains your brain to treat challenges as practice.

Desk Drum Release

● What it is: Tap a steady beat for 60 seconds and relax your jaw.

● How often: Twice daily, or before tense conversations.

● Why it helps: It burns off agitation and restores control.

Playlist Walk Check-In

● What it is: Take a 10-minute walk and name three “wins” between verses.

● How often: 3 times per week.

● Why it helps: It builds momentum and reinforces self-trust.

Sunday Soundtrack Preview

● What it is: Choose three songs for the week and assign each a purpose.

● How often: Weekly.

● Why it helps: It makes your routines easier to start.

Common Questions About Reinvention and Calm Energy

Q: How can I start setting clear intentions to reinvent myself and create positive changes? A: Keep it tiny and specific: choose one feeling you want today (steady, hopeful, brave), then one action that matches it. Try a 2-minute calm pause with a gentle song, inhale for four counts, exhale for six, and state your intention out loud. Write it on a sticky note where you will see it before you hit play.

Q: What are some effective ways to identify and release limiting beliefs that hold me back? A: Listen for the repeating sentence in your head, then test it like a lyric you do not have to keep. Replace “I can’t” with “I’m practicing” and take one low-stakes step while music runs in the background. Since depression, anxiety, and distress was 31.4%, 31.9%, and 41.1%, feeling stuck is common, not a personal flaw.

Q: How does stepping out of my comfort zone contribute to personal empowerment and positive energy? A: Small challenges teach your nervous system that you can be uncomfortable and still be safe. Pick a “one-verse brave” action, like making a call before the chorus ends, then stop and acknowledge you did it. Empowerment grows when you collect proof, not when you wait to feel fearless.

Q: What techniques can help me celebrate progress to stay motivated during my personal growth journey? A: Do a weekly check-in: choose one song, then list three wins and one lesson while it plays. Keep a “done list” so your brain gets credit for effort, not just outcomes. If you like visuals, make a printable intention or affirmation poster (or try a printable free poster maker) and tape it near your speakers.

Q: How can regularly listening to calming music like The River of Calm support me when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed during my reinvention process? A: Use it as a consistent cue that tells your body, “We are safe enough to soften.” Start with two minutes, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders, and let the steady tempo guide slower breathing. Because stress management interventions can reduce stress, a repeatable music ritual can be a simple anchor when emotions surge.

Build Positive Energy Through One Calm Music Habit Today

When stress is loud, it’s easy to crave a fresh start but feel stuck doing the same thing on repeat. The gentler path is the one this guide keeps pointing to: small self-reinvention encouragement, supported by calm music for wellbeing and the mindset of empowerment persistence. Over time, that steady practice makes room for ongoing personal growth, less reactive living, more choice, and a quieter confidence that helps in real moments. Reinvention doesn’t need a dramatic overhaul; it needs a steady rhythm you can return to. Choose one next step today, play a calming track, take a slow breath, and let it be your daily cue to start cultivating positive energy. That consistency matters because it builds resilience you can lean on, even when life gets busy again.

For busy adults juggling work, family, and persistent anxiety, home wellness remodeling can feel like one more project that’s supposed to help but somehow adds pressure. The core tension is simple: creating a multipurpose wellness space that supports physical fitness and recovery without turning the room into a cluttered storage zone or a half-finished gym. Many people want real stress-reduction strategies, yet the space has to function as a steady relaxation environment on hard days, not just on motivated ones. Done thoughtfully, a flexible room can deliver lasting mental health benefits.

Understanding a Multipurpose Wellness Room

At its heart, a multipurpose wellness room is one space that can shift with you. It uses flexible room design to support movement, recovery, and calm, so you are not chasing wellness in three different corners of the house. The goal is what wellness-focused interior design points to: a home that helps you feel better in your body and steadier in your mind.

This matters when stress is already loud, and you need relief that feels simple. A room that adapts makes it easier to pair light exercise with soothing music, then transition into rest without friction. Over time, those smoother transitions can support more consistent habits and fewer all-or-nothing days.

Picture a stressful evening: you play a familiar playlist, do ten minutes of stretching, then take micro recovery between gentle sets and slow breaths. The same floor space becomes your workout spot, then your quiet listening corner, without a full reset.

Use This 7-Point Setup Plan for Layout, Storage, Light, Materials

A multipurpose wellness room works best when it’s easy to reset. When the layout, storage, light, and materials support your nervous system, you’re more likely to return to your practice, especially on the days you’re stressed and tempted to skip it.

1. Map three zones with tape (Move / Restore / Store): Use painter’s tape to outline a simple wellness room layout: an open “Move” square (about 6x6 feet if you can), a “Restore” corner for sitting or lying down, and a “Store” edge along a wall. This layout keeps your brain from treating the room like a mini-gym by providing a visible place for calm. Zoning also helps the flexible room design idea actually function; you can switch modes without dragging everything out.

2. Face your calm zone toward the least-busy view: Set your chair, cushion, or mat so your eyes land on something neutral: a blank wall, a plant, a soft lamp, not your laundry pile or the doorway. This is a small shift, but it reduces visual “threat cues,” which can

matter in recovery and stress management. If you share your home, a folding screen or curtain can create instant separation without taking over the room.

3. Use “one-touch reset” storage for daily items: Choose one bin or lidded basket that holds the things you use most, bands, journal, eye pillow, headphones, and make it reachable from your calm zone. The rule is: you should be able to put the room back to clutter-free organization in under 60 seconds. When storage is frictionless, you’re more likely to practice consistently because cleanup doesn’t feel like a second workout.

4. Hide the “effort” gear; display the “comfort” gear: Keep heavier items (weights, foam roller, massage ball collection) inside a closed cabinet or under-bed box so the room reads as serene interior design first. Leave out one comforting cue like a folded throw, meditation cushion, or a small tray with lotion, signals that restoration is welcome here. This balance supports integrated fitness and recovery without making either one feel dominant.

5. Layer ambient lighting and give yourself control: Aim for at least two light sources (for example, a warm lamp plus a softer corner light) instead of relying on one bright overhead. If you can, choose dimmable lighting systems so your room can match your energy, brighter for movement, lower for downshifting. I’ve found that a gentler light level makes it easier to stay with breathwork or stretching when emotions run high.

6. Choose natural materials for wellness where your body touches: Prioritize cotton, linen, wool, wood, cork, or rattan in the “contact points”, rug, cushion cover, blanket, mat topper, or a small wooden stool. Natural textures add warmth and reduce that cold, clinical feel that can make a space feel like a training zone. If buying new isn’t possible, even swapping one synthetic throw for a breathable fabric can change the room’s tone.

7. Create a tiny “arrival station” to protect the vibe: Place a small hook or tray at the door for keys, phone, and watch, anything that pulls you back into alerts and tasks. This keeps the room clutter-free and makes it easier to transition into a calmer state quickly. Bonus: it also sets you up to use sound intentionally, because your audio won’t be competing with constant notifications.

Build Your Calm Zone With The River of Calm

For many adults, calming audio makes stress relief more accessible because it gives your mind one simple thing to follow. A recent experiment suggests some music can reduce anxiety during a complex task, which matters when your thoughts feel loud. The River of Calm is a gentle resource for stress-relief playlists and mindfulness soundscapes you can “assign” to your room’s modes. It helps your wellness space feel consistent, so your body learns what to expect when you step inside. That consistency supports audio-enhanced recovery, meaning you use intentional sound cues to shift from activation into rest.

On tense evenings, you might press play, dim the lamp, and let the room do the downshifting for you. When you’re ready, carry this same simplicity into comfort basics like airflow and temperature.

Wellness Room Questions, Answered

Q: How can I design a single room to serve multiple wellness purposes without making it feel cluttered? A: Pick 2 to 3 “modes” you’ll actually use, like stretch, meditate, and recover, then assign each mode one anchor item. Keep a clear floor zone for movement and a calm corner for rest, and let everything else live in closed storage. If the room feels stuffy, add a simple airflow check: hold a tissue near vents and note hot or cold spots.

Q: What are the best lighting options to create a calming and functional wellness space? A: Layer lighting so you can match your nervous system, bright for mobility work and soft for downshifting. Use a dimmable lamp for evenings and a task light for journaling or stretching. If the room runs warm under lights, switch to cooler running bulbs and consider a fan setting that keeps air moving.

Q: How can thoughtful storage solutions improve the usability of a multipurpose wellness room? A: Storage reduces decision fatigue because your setup becomes quick and predictable. Use labeled bins by activity and keep your most calming items at eye level so you reach for them first. If you need HVAC tweaks, common replacement filters and vent covers are usually available at local hardware stores or through your HVAC technician, and you can browse typical replacement parts, you can learn more here.

Q: Which materials support both relaxation and physical activity while being easy to maintain? A: Choose wipeable, sweat friendly surfaces like sealed wood, vinyl, or a washable low pile rug to soften sound. A supportive mat and a blanket can make the same corner work for stretching or rest without extra gear. Bringing in natural elements like plants or bamboo can also make the space feel calmer without adding clutter.

Q: How can integrating calming music and sound-based mindfulness, like the resources from The River of Calm, enhance my wellness room experience? A: Sound cues help your brain recognize “this is my safe practice space,” especially when you are new and overwhelmed. The Yale report on music mindfulness describes shifts in autonomic nervous system activity that can support settling and focus. Start simple: one short playlist for arriving, and one for recovery breathing.

Start Small to Build a Wellness Room That Lasts

When stress is high, even choosing where to sit, breathe, or stretch can feel like one more decision you don’t have energy for. Holistic room planning keeps it simple: listen to comfort cues, support focus with sound and airflow, and let the space evolve with real life. Over time, a personalized wellness space becomes a steady source of wellness routine inspiration, supporting long-term mental health and sustained physical wellness alongside emotional health improvement. A calmer life often begins with one calmer corner. Choose one next step today, adjust the temperature, soften the noise, or clear a small surface, and let that be enough. These small choices matter because they build stability you can return to, again and again.

Just a few gentle strums of ukelele music can immediately transport us to a place of calm. This mysterious effect is one reason board-certified music therapist Lorrie Kubicek helps many patients take up the easy-to-play instrument after they're diagnosed with cancer or another major health condition — transforming a fraught situation into a constructive one.

"Instead of saying 'I have to go to the hospital for my chemo,' patients start saying, 'I have to go to the hospital for my ukelele lesson,'" says Kubicek, co-director of the Katherine A. Gallagher Integrated Therapies Program at Harvard-affiliated Mass General Cancer Center.

But music therapy is far more than a pleasant diversion, exemplifying how the art and science of medicine can work in tandem. With ancient roots — the Chinese character for medicine includes the character for music — the approach also helped rehabilitate World War II veterans' minds, bodies, and spirits.

Characterized by personally tailored music interventions such as singing, songwriting, playing an instrument, listening to music, or moving to the beat, music therapy strikes a chord in many areas of medicine. Evidence increasingly suggests it helps people better manage disease symptoms and treatment side effects by curbing stress, soothing pain, promoting sleep, and boosting focus.

"Music connects you to a part of yourself that's well, and that's true no matter what patient population we're working with," Kubicek says. "Music remains, no matter the challenges a person is facing."

Personalized approach

Music therapy isn't the same thing as music medicine, in which patients simply wear headphones and listen to their favorite music for relaxation or distraction while undergoing medical treatment. It also doesn't require any musical background or experience to participate or benefit.

The therapy begins with a one-on-one assessment with a music therapist to explore how each person relates to music and what problems they may face. "We combine this information with evidence-based interventions to help patients feel, deal, or heal as quickly as possible," Kubicek says. "We figure out how music can help you move toward your goals in a way that sets you up for success."

Building on decades of research, recent studies indicate this type of intervention can provide important relief by reducing anxiety during medical treatment, according to a 2021 research review published in Psychiatry Research.

"We see this all the time," she says. "Because of music's connection to the limbic system in the brain, it can help you access the relaxation response and calm your nervous system, slowing down your breathing. It really helps shift your mind from what it's stuck on or worried about and helps you land in the moment you're in."

People with Alzheimer's disease were the focus of a research review published online in March 2023 by Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, which suggested that music therapy improved memory, attention, and orientation in these patients. And for people with psychiatric illnesses such as depression, Kubicek says, music therapy can "bring energy and joy back at a very dark time in people's lives. It's also really beautiful to see how music can connect people of different ages and stages, cognitive abilities, and cultures."

Stretching the benefits

Regardless of diagnosis, music therapy can hit the right notes as long as you feel a connection to music. "You don't need to be a musician. You just need to love music and have something you want to develop or nurture," she says.

You also don't need to wait for your doctor to offer music therapy. Ask her — or your local hospital or clinic — to refer you to a program. "If you do have a specific diagnosis, you can always ask your health care team," Kubicek says. You can also find a music therapist near you through the American Music Therapy Association.

To maximize the therapy's benefits, find a balance between taking risks and staying in your comfort zone, Kubicek advises. "When we're exploring music, often we're trying something new for the first time," she says. "Find that 'stretch zone,' because you don't know the full effect of what music can do for you until you try."

***

By: Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

What Are Major Life Transitions and Why Do They Matter?

A major life transition is any significant event or change that affects your mental state, daily routines, or sense of self. These can include milestones like marriage, divorce, losing a loved one, changing jobs, or relocating to a new place. According to the definition of a psychological transition, such changes often impact both your emotions and your identity.

Understanding the effects of major life changes matters because almost everyone will face them at some point, approximately 50-60% of adults will experience at least one significant or life-altering event. How you respond can shape your well-being, relationships, and ability to cope with stress. Recognizing the impact helps you choose strategies that support mental health, like using music to manage stress during difficult times.

Imagine suddenly moving to a new city. You may feel excitement, but also anxiety, loneliness, and confusion as your routine and support networks shift. Learning to identify these feelings makes it easier to care for yourself as you adapt.

With the basics defined, it's helpful to see how different kinds of life changes bring unique stressors and challenges.

Comparing Common Life Changes and Their Unique Stressors

Here's a side-by-side look at major life changes and what often makes each one challenging to navigate. Recognizing the type of transition you’re facing can help you choose music-based stress relief and other supports that directly address your situation. According to research, ample preparation can lead to better mental health outcomes during these significant events.

Each transition brings specific stressors, such as fear of the unknown or adjusting to a new identity, that require tailored support. Understanding which scenario you’re experiencing makes it easier to select effective coping tools, like music or mindfulness.

With this clarity, you can find approaches that truly fit your needs and face change with greater confidence.

Use Proven Steps to Navigate Key Life Transitions With Confidence

Navigating major life changes, whether you're moving, facing illness, grieving, or starting a business, can feel overwhelming and isolating. With a few simple, supportive strategies, you can break down big transitions into manageable steps.

1. Pack Your Move With Planning: Create a moving checklist with weekly goals to reduce last-minute stress. Reach out to friends or neighbors for help with packing or sharing moving day tasks, it not only eases the workload but builds supportive connections.
2. Break Down Business Beginnings: Starting your first small business can be daunting, so focus on one task at a time. Secure your business name, look into digital LLC formation tools like zenbusiness.com, and remember, more than 70% formed digitally, you’re not alone and expert help is accessible.
3. Honor Grief With Routine and Expression: Schedule daily moments to listen to a calming playlist or write a short reflection. Routine and creative outlets provide comfort while giving your emotions space to be felt and understood.
4. Support Health Changes Through Gentle Structure: When illness changes your routine, set flexible intentions for each day. Simple practices, like a short midday walk or an uplifting song, create consistency and a sense of control, even on unpredictable days.
5. Lean Into Research for Business Confidence: If launching a venture, take time to understand your market. Quibi, failed to properly assess its audience, a reminder that exploring your competition and audience first helps your business thrive.

Step by step, these approaches help you manage overwhelm so you can feel grounded, making it easier to explore restorative music habits in daily life.

Everyday Music Habits for Calm and Resilience

Try these simple routines to make each day more manageable.

Building small, music-based habits can help you adjust to big changes with greater calm and resilience. These practices offer soothing anchors, lift your mood, and help manage stress, all while fitting easily into daily or weekly life.

Start Your Day with Uplifting Music

• What it is: Play a favorite upbeat song while getting ready in the morning.
• How often: Daily, as part of your morning routine.
• Why it helps: Positive music sets a hopeful tone and energizes you for the day ahead.

Five-Minute Musical Pause

• What it is: Take a short break to listen to calming music and breathe deeply.
• How often: Once or twice daily when you feel stress rising.
• Why it helps: Brief musical breaks lower anxiety and offer a reset for your mind.

Reflect with a Song Journal

• What it is: Jot down one song and a thought about how it made you feel.
• How often: Weekly, or whenever you need emotional clarity.
• Why it helps: This mindful reflection encourages you to be fully present and helps you process emotions without judgment.

Share Your Mood Playlist

• What it is: Create and share a playlist that matches your current emotions with a close friend.
• How often: Every couple of weeks, or during major transitions.
• Why it helps: Social support and music together boost connection and emotional relief.

Start with one of these habits and adapt it to fit your family's unique needs.

Embracing Change With Self-Belief and a Calmer Mind

Facing major life changes often brings uncertainty and moments when stress feels overwhelming. Choosing a reflective mindset and leaning on music-based habits can help you stay balanced and adapt, even when routines are disrupted. As you practice these approaches, confidence grows, and transitions become less daunting. The way you approach change shapes not just your mood, but your entire experience. Start by picking one calming practice to anchor your day, even for just a few minutes. Supporting your mental wellness today creates stronger foundations for resilience, stability, and positive growth tomorrow.

 Savannah Taylor

• Physiological Response: It calms the autonomic nervous system, slowing heart rate, deepening breathing, and reducing muscle tension.
  
  
• Emotional Processing: It activates brain regions linked to emotion, helping regulate feelings and reducing anxiety, worry, and restlessness.
  
  
• Distraction & Focus: Instrumental or background music can help you focus by reducing distractions, while uplifting music can foster optimism. 
  
  
  

• Calming Genres: Classical, ambient, lo-fi, jazz, and nature sounds are often recommended for relaxation.
  
  

• Personalization: Self-selected music is highly effective; what you enjoy most matters.
  
  
• Active Engagement: Playing an instrument, singing, or dancing can offer greater benefits than passive listening.
  
  
• Routine Integration: Creating playlists, using apps for focus, or simply incorporating 15-30 minutes into your daily routine can make a significant difference. 
  
  
  

• Studies show significant stress reduction, with one finding up to a 21.3% drop in anxiety with music.
  
  
• Personalized music listening supports stress management for all ages, with older adults sometimes showing greater benefits.
  
  
• Context (personal preference, culture) heavily influences effectiveness, suggesting tailored sound interventions are crucial. 

Maintaining steady progress toward wellness can feel like chasing sunlight through shifting clouds — bright and clear one week, overcast the next. Between work, relationships, and daily responsibilities, even well-intentioned routines can slip away. The good news? With the right systems, mindset, and support, consistency becomes less about willpower and more about design.

TL;DR

Consistency in self-care isn’t about perfection. It’s about building small, repeatable habits supported by structure, reflection, and community. Use micro-goals, habit tracking, accountability partners, and mindful rest to create sustainable progress.

1. Reframe “Wellness” as a System, Not a Streak

Progress doesn’t happen because you never miss a day — it happens because you recover quickly when you do. Treat your wellness like a flexible system that adjusts with life’s changes rather than a fragile checklist. Tools like Headspace or MyFitnessPal can help you monitor patterns over time, not punish occasional breaks.

2. The Power of Routine Anchors

Anchor wellness activities to moments that already happen every day: brushing your teeth, morning coffee, or the end of the workday. When self-care is “paired” with existing routines, the brain stops treating it like an optional add-on. For example, listen to calming music from The River of Calm while journaling before bed — the sensory cue helps your body recognize it’s time to unwind.

3. A Simple How-To Checklist for Consistency

Daily Consistency Checklist

• Set one micro-goal (walk for 10 minutes, stretch for five)
• Track one win in a journal or wellness app
• Use an accountability reminder (calendar alert or partner text)
• Pause for mindful reflection — even 60 seconds counts
• End the day with gratitude, not guilt

Completing just three of these per day sustains momentum far better than chasing an all-or-nothing routine.

4. Building Habits That Actually Stick

1. Start Small: Scale goals down until success feels inevitable. Ten pushups > an hour at the gym when you’re restarting.
2. Measure Emotion, Not Just Effort: Log how you felt after self-care. Positive reinforcement matters more than minutes logged.
3. Use Environment Design: Keep a water bottle on your desk, yoga mat in sight, or healthy snacks visible.
4. Celebrate Consistency Over Intensity: Reward showing up, not just perfect outcomes.

For deeper habit-building insight, explore Atomic Habits by James Clear.

5. Career Goals and Personal Wellness: Parallel Paths

Consistency in wellness mirrors consistency in career development — both require clarity, pacing, and purpose. Staying true to your professional vision often means investing in personal growth, even if that means learning new skills while balancing life’s demands.

If you’re considering a shift, pursuing education online allows flexibility to maintain both wellness and work. You can even explore programs like a master’s degree in nursing to open new paths in nurse education, informatics, administration, or advanced practice — all while keeping your current schedule. You can check it out to see how learning while working can align with long-term balance.

6. Common Barriers and Solutions

7. The Role of Rest and Recovery

Rest is productive. Recovery days prevent burnout and keep motivation intact. Sleep hygiene — reducing screen time, maintaining a regular bedtime, and using gentle wind-down music — is one of the most underrated self-care acts. Try tools like Calm or Pzizz to structure restful sleep routines.

8. Tech-Assisted Accountability

Digital wellness communities and habit-tracking apps make consistency social. Joining spaces like FitOn or mindfulness forums on Reddit’s r/Meditation creates gentle accountability — a key predictor of long-term habit success.

9. Guided Aromatherapy Diffuser

If you’re building an evening ritual, integrating sensory cues can help. The Vitruvi Stone Diffuser blends minimalist design with programmable timers for calming aromatherapy — a small investment that elevates any relaxation routine.

10. Glossary

• Micro-goal: A small, achievable action that builds confidence and momentum.
• Habit stacking: Pairing a new habit with an existing one to trigger consistency.
• Wellness ecosystem: The interconnected routines, tools, and environments that support your health goals.
• Recovery window: The period of rest that allows your body and mind to reset.

Conclusion

Consistency isn’t about doing everything perfectly — it’s about returning to what matters after every detour. When wellness goals become a structured, forgiving part of your day rather than a rigid expectation, you create space for both progress and peace.

(June 10, 2025) — Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) is honored to announce that The River of Calm - Music To Soothe Your Soul™ Headphones For Chemotherapy has been named VISIONARY PRODUCT GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER in this year’s COVR Visionary Awards. Each year COVR gives Visionary Awards to entries selected from among the best products in the Mind Body Spirit industry. Both COVR members and non-members were eligible to enter the competition.

The River of Calm - Music to Soothe Your Soul is an online radio station providing calming music to a stressed-out world. They provide headphones filled with the music from The River of Calm and donate them to chemotherapy centers nationwide. 

The COVR Visionary Awards were judged by both the industry professionals of COVR and the general public. Votes from COVR’s industry professionals accounted for 60 percent of the total score. Votes from the general public made up the remaining 40 percent. The final scores result from the application of a proprietary algorithm developed by COVR administration. The change, made by COVR’s Board of Directors in 2015, has provided more entrants the opportunity to leverage the marketing potential of their entry by conducting a social media campaign or email campaign that draws their audience to vote for their entry.

COVR is the trade association for the Mind Body Spirit marketplace. It supports the success of members by providing education, mentoring, discounts, and targeted networking. The COVR Visionary Awards are given to outstanding individuals, companies, and products in the Mind Body Spirit industry. These awards are the only awards of their kind in the industry.

The River of Calm - Music To Soothe Your Soul™ is the maker of Headphones For Chemotherapy. Visit the company’s website at www.theriverofcalm.com

How Parental Anxiety Shapes a Child's Emotional World

Anxiety has a way of sneaking into every crevice of your life, especially when you’re juggling parenting on top of everything else. You might think you’re managing just fine, but kids are astute observers—they notice your tone, body language, and shifts in mood long before you ever say a word. The reality is that your anxiety doesn’t just affect you. It often creates ripple effects that your children feel in deeply personal ways, shaping how they interpret the world and manage their own emotions. Knowing how to recognize this dynamic and address it can make all the difference in raising emotionally secure children.

Seeing the Signs in Your Children Before It’s Too Late

Children rarely express anxiety the way adults do. Rather than openly stating that they’re overwhelmed, they may suddenly withdraw, struggle with sleep, exhibit clingy behavior, or develop stomachaches with no medical explanation. School avoidance, irritability, or perfectionism can also indicate internal stress. If your child seems to be overly concerned about your well-being or frequently tries to “fix” your mood, they may be internalizing your stress as their responsibility. Paying attention to these subtle shifts is essential in preventing long-term emotional consequences. These signs are not only red flags but also cries for connection and understanding.

Building a Home Where Emotions Are Welcome

Children need an environment where emotions—both theirs and yours—can be discussed without fear of judgment or dismissal. When kids feel safe enough to ask questions and share their fears, joys, and uncertainties, they’re more likely to build emotional intelligence and resilience. This doesn’t require dramatic family meetings or complex strategies. Simple daily check-ins, validating their feelings without rushing to fix them, and modeling open conversations around stress can foster trust. The goal isn’t to shield them from all discomfort, but to let them know they’re not alone in navigating it.

Reinventing Your Career to Support Mental Wellness

When your job contributes to your anxiety, it doesn’t just affect your mood—it affects your kids, too. Taking steps to improve your career prospects can not only ease your mental burden but also show your children that change is possible. For example, if you work in nursing and want better working conditions, shifts, and pay, working toward earning a family nurse practitioner master’s degree can position you for a more hands-on approach and see improved pay and hours. Regardless of your career track, online degree programs make it easier to handle parenting and work duties more easily. Here’s a possible solution: explore educational or vocational pathways that support both your mental health and your family’s long-term security.

Recognizing How Your Anxiety Seeps Into Your Parenting

It’s hard to parent well when you're running on fumes. Whether it’s snapping at minor infractions or micromanaging out of fear, anxiety often shows up in reactive, controlling, or overly protective behaviors. If you find yourself constantly catastrophizing or emotionally withdrawing, those are signs your anxiety might be affecting your parenting. Journaling, mindfulness, or simply pausing when you're triggered can help you identify patterns in your responses. This self-awareness is the first step in breaking the cycle and building a healthier emotional environment for your children.

Coping in Real Time to Lead by Example

Children learn more from what you do than what you say. If they see you reacting to stress with panic, avoidance, or unhealthy habits, they’ll likely internalize those same behaviors. On the flip side, watching you handle anxiety by going for a walk, talking things through, or practicing deep breathing teaches them that stress isn’t something to fear—it’s something to manage. Even narrating your coping strategies aloud ("I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to step outside for a few minutes to clear my head") can have a profound impact. It makes emotional regulation visible, tangible, and achievable.

Asking for Help When You Need It

There’s no award for muscling through anxiety on your own. If your stress feels chronic, overwhelming, or you simply don't feel like yourself, reaching out to a therapist can offer invaluable support—not just for you, but for your whole family. Therapy isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a tool that helps you understand yourself better and uncover healthier ways of responding. Many mental health professionals also offer parenting support, helping you learn how to communicate better with your children and develop strategies that reduce emotional reactivity. Investing in therapy is investing in your family's long-term well-being.

Caring for Yourself Isn’t Optional—It’s a Necessity

You can't pour from an empty cup. Prioritizing your own self-care isn't selfish; it’s how you sustain your ability to parent with presence and patience. That might mean carving out time for a hobby, exercising regularly, sleeping more, or even just taking a break when you’re on the verge of burnout. Self-care also includes setting boundaries with toxic relationships or work environments that elevate your stress levels. By caring for yourself, you’re showing your children that well-being matters—and teaching them by example that they deserve to care for themselves, too.

If you’re worried that your anxiety is affecting your child, that’s actually a good sign—it means you care enough to want to change things. Parenting under the weight of constant worry is hard, but not impossible. By taking responsibility for your emotional health and modeling resilience, you’re not just surviving parenthood—you’re shaping emotionally grounded, capable young humans. And along the way, you might just find yourself feeling a little lighter, too.

Discover the soothing power of music with The River of Calm – explore our mobile app, house concerts, and award-winning content to bring tranquility into your life today!

Music can be used as a therapeutic tool to not only reduce stress, but to also promote healing and improve one’s overall emotional well-being. Recent research demonstrates that the use of music in addition to standard therapeutic tools provides additional restorative benefits for people with depression and anxiety, compared to those who received just therapy without the use of music. Different uses may include listening to music, playing a musical instrument, singing along to music and using guided imagery with music.

Music can make us feel good. There is solid evidence that music stimulates the production of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone in our bodies. Through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a 2011 study demonstrated that dopamine increased in the brain when listeners experienced positive emotions in the same areas of the brain where pleasure is experienced when food and other sorts of cravings are satisfied. These findings may shed light on why music has played such a significant role shaping culture and is a source of pleasure for human beings throughout our history. Music is an integral part of life’s milestones and just about every significant life event across cultures, including weddings, birthday celebrations, funerals and religious activities.

In addition to helping human beings experience positive emotions, listening to music has also been associated with improving our physical health and well-being. There is good reason to believe that even more benefits are gained from music therapy when it is used not as a random activity, but as an intentional strategy to improve health and well-being. One study demonstrated that listening to music while taking a break reduced the prevalence of stress among front-line nurses, a profession that has long been marked by high rates of stress and occupational burn-out. In this study, participants were divided into two groups. One group listened to soothing music of their choice for 30 minutes while the other group rested quietly sitting in a chair for the same length of time. When outcomes were compared for the two groups, nurses who listened to music had lower perceived stress levels, lower levels of cortisol in their bloodstream and lower heart rates when compared to the group that rested in the chair.

Music can be an extremely useful tool for a wide range of audiences for stress relief since it is free or low-cost and readily available through a vast array of digital outlets. Any activity we engage in can be mindful and music provides the ultimate outlet to get lost or immerse oneself in something other than the thoughts in one’s head. Anyone can put a playlist together on their devices with music that aids in stress reduction; here is a sample of some relaxing songs:

1. “In My Time” by Yanni
2. Pachelbel’s Canon in D
3. “Sailing” by Christopher Cross
4. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
5. “Easy” by the Commodores
6. “Hasta Mi Final” by Il Divo
7. “The Best of Michael Franks” by Michael Franks
8. “Wake Up” by Marvin Gaye
9. “When you say Nothing at All” by Allison Krause
10. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran

Music is a powerful tool that can switch off the stress response and in turn improve our emotional health. Whether one listens to, plays or sings doesn’t matter. All of it has proven benefits.

For more information on MSU Extension's mindfulness programs, please visit the Mindfulness for Better Living website.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Music’s power to create significant responses can be witnessed in the way people with dementia become energised and engaged by songs from their youth; and how people with severe speech impediments sing beautifully with no sign of their challenges.

As music is so tied up with emotional, mental and physical responses, it has an important role in the field of PTSD therapies. Let’s explore insights into music therapy for PTSD.

The science behind Music Therapy

Listening to your favourite music is a good way to escape the things that make you anxious and depressed and can be a much-needed distraction. However, music as a therapy tool goes beyond that.

Instead, it explores your responses to pieces of music, to alleviate PTSD symptoms and relax you. This can include, for example, finding the best music to help you to go to sleep quicker and have fewer nightmares.

So how does music therapy work?

One of the ways music therapy affects mental health is that it stimulates the release of positive hormones such as oxytocin. One study found that people who sing for half an hour become energised and emotionally lifted by the experience, thanks to the rush of oxytocin.

Music also counteracts hormones linked to increased stress – particularly Cortisol – the hormone that is often un-regulated in people with PTSD. One study measured the drop in cortisol levels for individuals listening to soothing music, in comparison to silence or rippling water. Music proved the most significant.

Setting aside the chemistry behind music therapy, it also provides sensory input that makes us instinctively ease muscle tension. Which is why music is often used in junction with Progressive Muscle Relaxation.

More evidence music therapy works

Music therapy is what’s known as an evidence-based technique to treat PTSD. (It is also used for other anxiety and depression disorders, and brain injuries too.) There are many examples of diverse studies into its effectiveness.

One of these studies focused specifically on people with persistent PTSD, who may have found talking therapies uncomfortable or ineffective. The study also looked at delivering music as a group therapy tool, thanks to support from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

The results included a ‘significant’ reduction in PTSD symptoms like hyperarousal, avoidance, and re-experiencing.

Another study looked at music in relation to military personnel. It concluded: “Music has long been used with the military to enhance quality of life, and today music therapy interventions are used to promote health, enhance quality of life, and improve functioning”

How to access music therapy

Anyone can use music to help them to achieve their PTSD goals, including to relax, meditate and fall asleep more easily.

However, a trained therapist can use music to stimulate not just an emotional response, but also a cognitive one. They can frame physical reactions and support positive associations using pieces of music, to enhance or supplement Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for instance.

You can find a licensed music therapist through a variety of places including the British Association for Music Therapy website: https://www.bamt.org/music-therapy/music-therapy-in-the-uk

You can also join an online choir from Nordoff Robbins (the UK’s largest music therapy charity) here: https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/online-choir/

It’s important to note, that while choosing your PTSD recovery path you need to address both the symptoms and the underlying condition. NICE guidance updated in 2018 recommends the use of trauma focused psychological treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults, specifically the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Please remember, these aren’t meant to be medical recommendations, but they’re tactics that have worked for others and might work for you, too. Be sure to work with a professional to find the best methods for you.

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Source: PTSDUK

The team from Spiritual Care and Support at NorthShore, highlights some of the benefits music has on health and well-being:

• It’s heart healthy. Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood.
  
  
• It elevates mood. Music can boost the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the brain involved in mood and emotions.
  
  
• It reduces stress. Research has found that listening to music can relieve stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers.
  
  
• It relieves symptoms of depression. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, music can help pick you up - much like exercise.
  
  
• It stimulates memories. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia but music therapy has been shown to relieve some of its symptoms. Music therapy can relax an agitated patient, improve the mood and open communication in patients.
  
  
• It manages pain. By reducing stress levels and providing a strong competing stimulus to the pain signals that enter the brain, music therapy can assist in pain management.
  
  
• It eases pain. Music can meaningfully reduce the perceived intensity of pain, especially in geriatric care, intensive care or palliative medicine.
  
  
• It helps people eat less. Playing soft music in the background (and dimming the lights) during a meal can help people slow down while eating and ultimately consume less food in one sitting.
  
  
• It increases workout endurance. Listening to those top workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session.

***

Source: NorthShore

Having a positive outlook doesn’t mean you never feel negative emotions, such as sadness or anger, says Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson, a psychologist and expert on emotional wellness at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “All emotions—whether positive or negative—are adaptive in the right circumstances. The key seems to be finding a balance between the two,” she says.

“Positive emotions expand our awareness and open us up to new ideas, so we can grow and add to our toolkit for survival,” Fredrickson explains. “But people need negative emotions to move through difficult situations and respond to them appropriately in the short term. Negative emotions can get us into trouble, though, if they’re based on too much rumination about the past or excessive worry about the future, and they’re not really related to what’s happening in the here and now.”

People who are emotionally well, experts say, have fewer negative emotions and are able to bounce back from difficulties faster. This quality is called resilience. Another sign of emotional wellness is being able to hold onto positive emotions longer and appreciate the good times. Developing a sense of meaning and purpose in life—and focusing on what’s important to you—also contributes to emotional wellness.

Research has found a link between an upbeat mental state and improved health, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk for heart disease, healthier weight, better blood sugar levels, and longer life. But many studies can’t determine whether positive emotions lead to better health, if being healthy causes positive emotions, or if other factors are involved.

“While earlier research suggests an association between positive emotions and health, it doesn’t reveal the underlying mechanisms,” says Dr. Richard J. Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “To understand the mechanisms, I think it will be crucial to understand the underlying brain circuits.”

By using brain imaging, Davidson and others have found that positive emotions can trigger “reward” pathways located deep within the brain, including in an area known as the ventral striatum.

“Individuals who are able to savor positive emotions have lasting activation in the ventral striatum,” Davidson says. “The longer the activation lasts, the greater his or her feelings of well-being.” Continued activation of this part of the brain has been linked to healthful changes in the body, including lower levels of a stress hormone.

Negative emotions, in contrast, can activate a brain region known as the amygdala, which plays a role in fear and anxiety. “We’ve shown that there are big differences among people in how rapidly or slowly the amygdala recovers following a threat,” Davidson says. “Those who recover more slowly may be more at risk for a variety of health conditions compared to those who recover more quickly.”

Among those who appear more resilient and better able to hold on to positive emotions are people who’ve practiced various forms of meditation. In fact, growing evidence suggests that several techniques—including meditation, cognitive therapy (a type of psychotherapy), and self-reflection (thinking about the things you find important)—can help people develop the skills needed to make positive, healthful changes.

“Research points to the importance of certain kinds of training that can alter brain circuits in a way that will promote positive responses,” Davidson says. “It’s led us to conclude that well-being can be considered as a life skill. If you practice, you can actually get better at it.”

In one study, Davidson and his colleagues found changes in reward-related brain circuits after people had 2 weeks of training in a simple form of meditation that focuses on compassion and kindness. These changes, in turn, were linked to an increase in positive social behaviors, such as increased generosity.

Fredrickson and her colleagues are also studying meditation. They found that after 6 weeks of training in compassion and kindness meditation, people reported increased positive emotions and social connectedness compared to an untrained group. The meditation group also had improved functioning in a nerve that helps to control heart rate. “The results suggest that taking time to learn the skills to self-generate positive emotions can help us become healthier, more social, more resilient versions of ourselves,” Fredrickson says.

Dr. Emily Falk, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, is taking a different approach. Falk is exploring how self-affirmation—that is, thinking about what’s most important to you—can affect your brain and lead to positive, healthful behaviors. Her team found that when people are asked to think about things that they find meaningful, a brain region that recognizes personally relevant information becomes activated. This brain activity can change how people respond to health advice.

“In general, if you tell people that they sit too much and they need to change their behavior, they can become defensive. They’ll come up with reasons why the message doesn’t apply to them,” Falk says. But if people reflect on the things they value before the health message, the brain’s reward pathways are activated.

This type of self-affirmation, Falk’s research shows, can help physically inactive “couch potatoes” get more active. In a recent study, inactive adults received typical health advice about the importance of moving more and sitting less. But before the advice, about half of the participants were asked to think about things that they value most.

The “self-affirmation” group became more physically active during the month-long study period that followed compared to the group that hadn’t engaged in self-affirmation. “The study shows one way that we can open the brain to positive change and help people achieve their goals,” Falk says.

Being open to positive change is a key to emotional wellness. “Sometimes people think that emotions just happen, kind of like the weather,” Fredrickson says. “But research suggests that we can have some control over which emotions we experience.” As mounting research suggests, having a positive mindset might help to improve your physical health as well.

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Source: News In Health