Jump to It - Motivating with Music

     I recently made a trip to the UK which involved flying from Ireland to Stansted. It's only a short hop between the two countries of Ireland and England but somehow the journey seems to be so much more intricate and troublesome than the equivalent journey I used to make from Germany to the UK. 

     I live about one hour from Cork airport which in itself seems to add a yawning gap onto the start of my travels. I have to get up at around 4am to catch the early flight and this screws up the cat's day. She wanders around me in a daze and, after requesting that I open the front door, she stares at the darkness lurking without and then mews at me resentfully.

   The last time I made this journey she actually left the food untouched that usually causes so much excitement. She silently took up position on the back of the sofa to ignore me and go back to sleep. She didn't even come to see me off as she usually would but just resolutely remained aloof as I collected my bags and made a final check of the house.

     Once I was at the airport there was the usual rigmarole of decanting all my liquids into a see through plastic bag and going through the show trial like escapade of removing my belt, boots, hat and jacket. Having shuffled through the security area like a Guantanamo Bay candidate I started to collect my things. Thank heavens for the genteel lady who gave me a bit of light relief.

     She had allowed her bag to go through the X-ray machine without removing her laptop. It caused a minor blip of excitement in the lives of the security officers who would otherwise no doubt have to endure a seemingly endless day of watching the silhouettes of clean undies pass them by on a TV screen. She was taken to one side and asked why she hadn't removed her laptop to which she innocently replied "It's not a laptop! It's my 'personal computer'!" Bless her!

     I'm used to the calming effect of Tibetan singing bowls and I'm lucky enough to work with music to help people relaxi and achieve inner peace. The feeling of lethargy that abounded in the departure lounge harmonized with that ideal. People seemed relaxed  - but there was an edge to the atmosphere that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

     As the allotted time for my flight approached I made a quick trip to the bathroom - I always like to sit by the window on these short journeys and it's such a nuisance to have to squeeze past people if you get caught short during the flight. So I made my way to the nearest gents.

     Sparing the details, I found myself relieved and standing at the wash basin tapping my foot and singing along to the piped music playing in the background. It was van Halen's Jump. 

     It was irresistible. 

     You just can't help moving to that beat. 

     But what a strange song to be playing in the gents toilet at Cork Airport just before a 8am flight departure! But, actually, no it wasn't. I came out of the toilets with a spring in my step and feeling like I could conquer the world. That's the effect that song has on a lot of people. Just the opening chords with that power synth blazing away are enough to get people up on the dance floor at a wedding disco! Try it yourself. Take a moment to YouTube it and listen...

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     When I sat down to await the call to the gate I realized that the simply hearing this music had completely changed my state. Imagine if you were nervous of flying and you heard this music. For some people, of course, the association of "jump" with "flying" may not be positive but generally it would have a really positive impact on your consciousness. This is the power of music.

     I've had some opportunities to take part in Tony Robbins seminars and in this environment it's quite usual to identify with certain songs and make them triggers to create a desired state. The same is true if you want to relax. You just need to select the right play list to achieve the state you want.

     One of the trademark characteristic of the Tony Robbins seminars is that they take on the energy and vibrance of a rave. There's a good reason for this. When you're in this hyped up and excited state there are all kinds of receptors firing off in your brain that help you feel positive and make you receptive to learning. It releases the endorphins that make us feel good. Exercise, dancing and jumping up and down will do the same thing. Music, however, is a powerful shortcut to turning on this state altering energy. It's like a drug but it's legal and it's free! Who wouldn't want to get high on feeling good?

     I don't know whether it was a conscious choice of music by the authorities at Cork Airport or whether it was a coincidence that morning but thanks to them the atmosphere at the airport that morning was positive and upbeat. Looking around before departure I believe other people felt it too.

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