Mindfulness meditation has received a lot of attention in recent years, but many beginners wonder, “Is it okay to meditate while listening to music?” This is a question that many beginners have to ask themselves. As it turns out, the ideal is to meditate in “silence” in the end.
However, for beginners, the use of background music can be an effective tool. In this article, we will explain in detail the relationship between music and mindfulness meditation, and the final goal of meditating in “silence.
Contents
Is it possible to do mindfulness while listening to music?
The essence of mindfulness meditation is to block out external stimuli and sharpen inward directed awareness. Music has the potential to interfere with this process.
This is because when you listen to music, it loops in your head and you are no longer able to meditate. This is called earworms. Mindfulness is the practice of clearing your thoughts and seeing what you are feeling right now as it is.
If there are thoughts, feelings, or notions there, it becomes impossible to observe the experience of the present moment in its purest form.
If it is for relaxation purposes, it can be done while listening
However, this does not mean that music is completely useless for meditation.
Especially for beginners, music can have a relaxing effect and help create an atmosphere conducive to meditation.
- Healing Music
- Sounds of Nature
- Environmental Sounds
and others can be effective in calming the mind and dispelling distractions. However, it is important to view them only as supplementary tools and not to rely too heavily on music.
It is also important to keep in mind that deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques are more effective in ensuring relaxation than listening to music.
As you become more familiar with mindfulness meditation, you will gradually build up a practice of meditating without music, allowing you to reach a deeper state of concentration.
Music you may and may not listen to
Choose music without lyrics
If you listen to music with lyrics during meditation, your attention will be drawn to the lyrics and your concentration will be interrupted. If the music has lyrics, you may begin to think about the meaning of the lyrics.
In addition, mindfulness is the practice of getting away from words and seeing things as they are in an experiential way. If you are in a state where you hear words and other concepts, it will interfere with mindfulness.
Choose music with a relaxed tempo.
Up-tempo music uplifts the mind and can attract a variety of thoughts and emotions. Therefore, it is not suitable for mindfulness practice.
On the other hand, music with a slow tempo can have a relaxing and calming effect, making it easier to meditate.
Choose music that relaxes you.
Choose music that has a relaxing effect, such as healing music or nature sounds. Music that eases tension in the mind and body and quiets the mind is suitable for meditation.
In particular, nature sounds have a slow rhythm called f/1 fluctuation, which is said to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in physical relaxation.
Finally, we should try to do it in “silence.
In mindfulness meditation, music can be used to calm the mind. However, the ultimate goal is to be able to meditate in “silence.
In the initial stages of meditating while listening to music, it is important to choose calm music without lyrics, such as nature sounds or the sound of waves.
These sounds help to shed distractions and direct your awareness inward.
As you continue to meditate, you will gradually become less and less aware of the presence of music. This indicates that your mind is clearing and your concentration is increasing. When the time comes, gradually fade out the music and eventually reach a state of silence.
Silent meditation allows you to experience a deeper level of mindfulness. Because you do not use the atmosphere with music, you can observe the natural flow of sound and sensation.
This is a valuable time to truly face yourself.
Our recommendation is to become silent from the beginning, but if you are anxious or experience strong emotions, you will need to be creative in your approach.
Conclusion
Mindfulness meditation can be done while listening to music. However, in that case, observation is difficult and the meditation may be only as a relaxation.
If the mind is restless, it is possible to play music to relax. Ultimately, however, aim to meditate in “silence”.
It is important to use music only as a supplementary tool and not to rely too much on music.
If you are able to meditate without music, you will experience deeper mindfulness, which will have a positive impact on your daily mental health.
RELATED.
