A song in the Night
In this blog I’m wanting to share the concept of having “a song in the night" and how incorporating breathing, paired with words and music will have a profound impact on our well-being, especially in times of struggle.
A few years ago I experienced a serious health issue. I’d be afraid of the night because the symptoms were worse then. I’d lie in bed in so much pain and gripped by fear.
I could have had any other words like scripture, but particularly these few sentences of this song HONESTLY just led me through.
Breathing in:
I love Your voice
Breathing out:
You have led me through the fire
Breathing in:
In the darkest night
Breathing out:
You are close like no other
Only those words.
It was honestly THE thing. Like when I dreaded the time to go to bed, I just knew I had my song.
Now, coming through that time, when I hear and sing it, it’s like a song of remembrance. I remember God's presence and the comfort even though the experience was dark. He gave the song and now it’s a reminder of His love, faithfulness, and the hope I have in Him.
So why am I sharing this?
I want you to have effective tools. My example is a Christian one, but it can be any strengthening, positive wording or melody that is uplifting to you.
The truth is this:
📍In the depths of physical or emotional difficulty, finding solace and hope can be challenging. However, the power of music and TRUE words can serve as such a tool to soothe our bodies, transform our mindset, calm our nervous system and lift our spirits.
📍Breathing variety is SUPERBLY beneficial and has such an amazing calming effect on us as a whole. One of the physiological responses to stress or difficulty is shallow and rapid breathing, which can further exacerbate feelings of anxiety and unease. However, by consciously changing our breathing patterns and synchronizing words or comforting lyrics with our breath, we will activate our vagus nerve, our parasympathetic calm state, use our diaphragm and facilitate clarity and peace.
📍I cant go into too much depth to this next point as it’s a topic for a lifetime, but it is ESSENTIAL to make sure the words we speak over ourselves are meaningful and TRUE!! Words possess incredible power. Whether spoken, written or in song, words influence us We want to chose words that enable us to uplift our spirits and shift our mindset towards hope and resilience. We really do need to be careful in the songs we sing, the voices we listen to . Some songs have beautiful melodies but less desirable words.
Remember you are speaking over yourself whenever you repeat a song or repeat someone’s words and you don’t know their intentions.
As a reminder to the application:
How it works is, you take a song that you love and speaks to you. Then you link your breath with each line of the song, so you breathe in one line, hold in the pause, out for the next line and repeat. You can either incorporate this with the song playing out loud, or if you sing it in your head - it’s situation dependent. This technique can be applied whether day or night.
In this life of bombarding and overwhelming messages of doom and gloom, finding the pockets of joy and hope like this tool, is so valuable to help keep our spirit, soul and body in peace.
Psalm 42:8
“But each day the LORD pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life”.
