I’m in spring cleaning mode of an abstract sort. I’m sprucing up my mental landscape, trying to reduce my exposure to stressors of all kinds, including virtual ones. Research suggests that human brains are unable to distinguish between physical threats, abstract threats, and representational threats. What that means is that to some extent, one’s endocrine system reacts the same way to:
- being chased by a saber-tooth tiger,
- being chastised by your boss at work,
- and being engaged in a “thrilling” movie,
…releasing cortisol, adrenaline, and other fight-or-flight hormones.
Stress hormones are helpful in the presence of an actual tiger, enabling a speedy attempt to escape, but unless you run away from your boss or scary movies, stress hormones simply take a toll on your system. Research has linked chronically high levels of stress hormones to a host of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and infertility. So I would like to produce less of them.
I obviously cannot prevent all stressors, but I’m determined to eliminate ones I can. I started several weeks ago by adjusting my entertainment choices. On the telly that means I’m trading high-suspense cop dramas like “24” for feel-good shows like “Eureka” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. For flicks I’m trading action binges like “Bourne Identity” for romances and comedies like “Pride & Prejudice,” “Music & Lyrics,” and “Barefoot in the Park”.
Now I’d like to make similar shifts in my tunes. So many songs are filled with angst or sadness or anger or longing. They were great for a moody teenhood, but don’t fit my current agenda at all.
Yesterday, I swapped out Fall Out Boy’s “Infinity on High” for Trout Fishing in America’s “Big Trouble”. That had me laughing for an hour, and humming whimsical tunes for the rest of the day. Now I’m looking for more!
Do you have any favorite pick-me-up tunes that are boppy or funky or cheerful or whimsical, that will make me want to dance and/or sing along? If you do, please share your suggestions!
