It’s Friday: time to think about YOUR Happiness Project. This week: Music meditation.

I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you should have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project.

This week’s assignment is a bit goofy and overspecific: if you have a sweetheart, go to iTunes, download Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You,” and dance around the room while thinking about all the things you love and appreciate about your sweetheart.

Here’s why.

I’m not a huge music lover, but every once in a while, I fixate on a song I really love – for example, the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s "Under the Bridge."

The other day, while working in a diner, I overheard a song, "Praise You," that I love but had forgotten about. I’m proud to say that I now possess the expertise to go to iTunes, buy a song, and load it onto my iPod. A major technological triumph for me.

Listening to this song flooded me with tender feelings for the Big Man. Yes, we have gone through the hard times and the good! Yes, I have to praise him like I should!

So find a song you love that fills you with happy feelings of love, gratitude, energy, or nostalgia. It could be the Gershwin song, “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” or the Talking Heads’ “And She Was,” or “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, or some terrific new song that I, of course, have never heard of.

If you get up and dance around the room while you listen, you’ll get extra happiness points.

Research shows that listening to music is an extremely effective way to boost mood and energy. It is an excellent way to induce a mood – the way “Praise You” induces feelings of gratitude and appreciation in me.

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Comments

[Jackie]

I love this idea! I'm thinking about making my husband a mix CD for Valentine's Day, which is also close to our anniversary, and "Praise You" might make the cut! We gave mix CDs as favors at our wedding years and years ago, so it's kind of a tradition of ours.

iTunes and iPods will never replace a good mix-gift, as far as I'm concerned.

[Jo]

I have been appreciating your website for over a year now - and maybe this is the first comment I've made... I am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment about starting a new job and feeling I don't know enough... instead of ringing a friend and burdening them with my troubles, I came here... the music tip is a good reminder...I might go and listen to a favourite of mine "the day brings" by Brad. Thanks!

[Jenn]

Great idea! I actully tend to make myself playlists of upbeat or inspiring music...I have a few different themes (uplifting, happy, thoughtful, etc.) and listen to them whenever I need a boost. And, really, the danceable stuff is the best!

[Scott McArthur]

I love this

http://mcarthursrant.blogspot.com/2007/08/something-to-bragg-about-art-of.html

[AndreaC]

Great post! Very appropriate for me at the moment. I have just been given a BugToo alarm clock which I really wanted because I can load my favourite tunes into it and then wake up to a song that will inspire me to get up! My favourite song of all time to make me feel good is Good Fortune by PJ Harvey - I recommend it to you Gretchen! 'and I feel like some bird of paradise, my bad fortune slipping away, and I feel the innocence of a child, everybody's got something good to say...'

[Alex]

Very timely...I was really down yesterday evening and what brought me back around was a night spent watching my favorite concert DVD (Pearl Jam concert from Madison Square Garden).

Music has been and always will be my primary form of therapy. Escape. Energy. Relaxation. Peace.

[Cara]

Yes! I'm working on two very big life goals right now, and when I need a boost I listen to "Reach" by Gloria Estafan. It was the theme song for the 1996 summer Olympics. So uplifting!

[Glenn]

Over the years I have had favorite music that helps me relax or adjust my mood. It seems to be a secret I rediscover as necessary, forgotten in between. In college it was Willie Nelson's Stardust album. A few years ago it was Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me". Latest song to reach my like that is Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten". The first two for mood adjustment and the last for some motivation.

[jim]

We like many of the same things. Look up Howie Day's "Perfect Time of Day".

Jim