Music - Inspiration to Help Get Through Challenging Times

Living in the moment has never been more true than today. As we're bombarded with daily reports of failing industries and job losses, many are now facing the very real effects of life changing challenges coming at them from all angles. It's not just something we read about anymore -- we're living it. With recent statistics placing the unemployment rate at 8.1%, can anyone working today say they're basking in the content glow of security? There is uncertainty and unrest for the working individual that still holds a job as much as for the person who has recently lost theirs.

It's during seemingly unbeatable odds and times of need that we consciously or subconsciously look for inspiration -- something that offers encouragement while living in a situation we can't easily remove ourselves from, and helps us deal with problems we can't readily solve.

People have turned to music as a source of inspiration during some of the harshest periods in the country's history. Immersing our thoughts and troubles into our favorite songs for even a brief period can inspire us beyond the moment of what is and where we are, to where we can be because of who we are. Music can effect our outlook and attitudes. Music can help us cope with our struggles, taking on value far beyond something on the radio that just helps us pass the time.

Even in times of economic and social crisis, people have continued embracing their love of entertainment. From the popularity of matinees during the years of the Depression, to the familiarity of televisions delivering images of an ideal home life into living rooms during the social uprisings of the 60's, we've come to rely on entertainment's ability to transport us to a time or place far removed from the realities of our lives. Entertainment helps us briefly escape from stressful situations, allowing a break from the source of our concerns.

Music is even more powerful in it's capability to do so much all at once. The sound of a lulling string section can set the tone, create suspense, and with a final sway of bows, signal the final scene of a romantic film. The right combination of music and words can promote a sense of purpose. Adding music to a 19th century poem by Francis Scott Key helped generations of the American public commit to memory the story about a battle and a flag that was still there. The Star Spangled Banner eventually became as symbolic as the American flag, and in 1931 was bestowed the title of National Anthem.

Is there a song that cheers you up, or has taken you out of a dark mood? Discovering the inspiring quality of a song is like realizing what a particular painting means to you -- what makes it special. Make mental use of a song that is special to you. Songs are artful lessons that can motivate self-love and hope like Michael Masser's and Linda Creed's 'Greatest Love of All' performed by Whitney Houston, or help someone identify with a reluctant hero trying to figure things out such as Tom Petty's 'Learning To Fly,' or empower through the affirmations of a woman betrayed as Beyonce performs in the song 'Irreplaceable,' by Ne-Yo. When we identify with a song's lyrics, or are moved to tears while listening to a sweeping Beethoven Symphony, we've emotionally, sometimes spiritually connected ourselves to music because it reaches the core of who we are in a very intimate way. Music can help us feel resolve where there was once confusion and anger, or help unify people under a common belief where there was once division.

Just as Enya's 'Only Time' captured the essence of the country's grief in 2001, John Rich's song 'Shuttin' Down Detroit' expresses the current anger and disappointment of the nation and also tells our story as individuals, inspiring us to join together to resolve the crisis we face, inspiring us along the way by reminding us that we're so much more than where we happen to be right now.

Music by independent artist Wistful Sound Gazers has been a presence in the digital media world since the early 00's with the release of 'Bliss' by singer/songwriter Ron Christopher. WSG's most downloaded song, 'Push,' continues to be a favorite of reviewers and fans alike, expounding on life and adversity through inspiration and self-determination.

By Ron Christopher - www.ezinearticles.com