Music for Optimism

Music for Optimism
by Kay Clancy and Victor Perton

Most of us enjoy songs that lift us and inspire happiness, joy, and optimism. Singing, playing, listening to, and dancing to optimistic music raise our optimism and help us spread it.

Kay Clancy posts music to inspire optimism weekly on LinkedIn: We always marvel at the people who engage and share their suggestions for more music for positivity.

Feel free to use Kay’s Optimism Playlist on Spotify and Victor’s Optimism Playlist on iTunes.

Make your own happy, optimistic music playlist.

“Beethoven was the greatest teacher we ever had writing the single most optimistic, positive piece of music ever written,” said Benjamin Zander, the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, speaking about Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9.

Victor’s optimism list includes Beethoven, and his top 5 are: Optimistic, Happy, Dancing in the Street, What a Wonderful World and Oh, Happy Day. Some mornings, he exercises and dances to Pharrell’s ‘Be Happy’ and August Green’s ‘Optimistic.’

Kay's top 5 are Old Church Choir, Good Morning Starshine, Open Your Eyes, Three Little Birds and Optimistic.

What music do you dance to that lifts your optimism and joy?

The music of optimism encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, from uplifting pop anthems to soulful gospel hymns. What sets these songs apart is their ability to inspire feelings of hope and positivity in listeners, even under challenging circumstances.

Research has shown that music can profoundly affect our emotional state, and listening to optimistic music can boost our mood, reduce stress, and improve our overall well-being.

Researchers found that participants who listened to uplifting music before engaging in a stressful task had lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone, than those who did not listen to music. This suggests that optimistic music can help mitigate stress’s adverse effects and promote resilience.
Another study found that listening to music with a positive message can increase feelings of gratitude and altruism. Participants who listened to music that focused on gratitude and kindness reported feeling more grateful and were likelier to engage in acts of service than those who listened to neutral or negative music.

The power of optimism in music is seen in its ability to inspire social and political movements. For example, during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, songs like “We Shall Overcome” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” became rallying cries for those fighting for equality and justice. These songs inspired hope and resilience in those facing discrimination and united people in a shared sense of purpose and determination.

The music of optimism can transform our emotional state and promote resilience, gratitude, and pro-social behaviour. Upbeat music can inspire hope and positivity, whether through uplifting pop songs or soulful gospel hymns, even in adversity. As we navigate the challenges of modern life, cultivating optimism through music can effectively improve our overall well-being and create a brighter future for ourselves and our communities.