Reading Time: 3 minutesThis is the suggested Well-Being Practice for week four of the challenge. If this practice does not work for you (for whatever reason), then you can choose from one of our 3 Foundational Well-Being Practices. If you are a veteran player or these three practices are not new to you, then feel free to select from our comprehensive list of Well-Being Practices.
This Week We’re Getting Our Jam On
Simple Instructions:
- Find a song that makes you happy no matter what.
- Find a time to play that song for yourself every day this week.
- The song should make you want to embody it, e.g. dance, smile, shake, air guitar, sing out.
- This practice should change your mind and your body.
Watch this video for an explanation of this Well-Being Practice from Whole Life Challenge co-founders Andy Petranek and Michael Stanwyck.
Why Is This Practice Important?
Did you ever notice that your mind is invaded every day? Your eyes and ears are assaulted by images and sounds that you have no control over.
Slogans, headlines, advertising messages, negative images, and images of perfection come in and hijack your thoughts — until you have a hard time knowing what you feel, think, or want.
But you can also take advantage of your senses to shift or improve your mood any time you want. By identifying some of the things you want to see and hear and exposing yourself to them, you can create the room to explore what life is like when you feel joy or peace at the heart of your being — and at the drop of a hat.
Because one of the most amazing tools for creating this space inside of ourselves is music. Music has the ability to relax us, lift us up, or bring us into states of joy, excitement, or bliss. When we take ourselves to these places, it can become very clear what we actually feel, think, and want. Often, our more terrestrial thoughts disappear and we find we want little outside of that moment.
This week’s practice is akin to walking in nature and meditation in that it’s about finding your space by being the deejay of your mood and energy. It’s a practice in using your jam as the gateway to your personal space and experience of the world.
For More on This Practice
Thad Beaty knows a thing or two about the power of music. He has spent nine years as a guitarist with country juggernaut Sugarland and shared stages with Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Rhianna, and Beyoncé.
But after his mother’s diagnosis with colon cancer, he also realized the rock-and-roll lifestyle had resulted in his own poor health. Listen to his podcast with Andy to learn more about his career and his transformation.
He graduated from UCLA with a BA in philosophy as well as a degree from the Southern California School of Culinary Arts, and feels food is one of the most important parts of a life - it can nourish, heal, and bring people together.
Michael believes health and well-being are as much a state of mind as they are a state of the body, and when it comes to fitness, food, and life in general, he thinks slow is much better than fast (most of the time). Stopping regularly to examine things is the surest way to put down roots and grow.
He knows he will never be done with his own work, and believes the best thing you can do for your well-being starts with loving and working from what you’ve got right now.
