Detox Your Brain: How Music Secretly Programs Our Minds

Drawing on my personal mindset training from poker, I take a deeper look at how music is programming our thoughts and shaping our realities.

The Toxicity of Music Lyrics

Music is a powerful force in our lives. It evokes deep emotions, creates lasting memories, and shapes our thoughts and behaviors.

However, many of us are unaware of how the lyrics we sing along to program our minds unconsciously.

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When we chime along to songs with toxic or negative lyrics, we are inadvertently reinforcing these harmful messages in our subconscious.

This happens without us questioning the content or considering its impact on our mental and emotional well-being.

For instance, consider the lyrics in some popular rap songs. While the beats are catchy and the melodies are compelling, the words often depict violence, misogyny, or materialism.

We might be appalled if we heard these words in everyday conversation. Yet, through the medium of music, we accept and even embrace these messages, repeating them over and over as we chant along.

The content of the lyrics aside, I love Eminem’s music. He’s an incredibly talented artist and has some of the coolest beats in all of rap.

However, when I stop and think about what he’s saying, I’m quite disturbed. Take his hit song “Love The Way You Lie”, featuring Rihanna.

”If she ever tries to fucking leave again, I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.”.

As is common with many artists, in particular rappers, the music is awesome, but the lyrics are not. I’m not here to pick on Eminem. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is quite common across many music genres.

Becoming aware of this has given me serious pause. Not only do I vehemently disagree with the content of what he’s saying, but there’s a more subtle, and sinister problem: the words we use in these lyrics seep into our subconscious, shaping our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors in ways we may not even realize.

How This Subconscious Programming Works

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) provides a framework for understanding how language and behavior patterns are formed and can be changed.

NLP suggests that our thoughts and behaviors are influenced by our language and experiences.

Just as positive affirmations can help rewire our brains for success, repetitive exposure to negative messages can have the opposite effect.

In self-help and therapeutic contexts, NLP techniques are used to replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones.

For example, seminars from self-help figures often use NLP to help individuals break free from negative thought patterns and adopt more positive, constructive ones.

Similarly, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps individuals process and reframe traumatic experiences, concluding by installing a new phrase or affirmation into the patient, changing the way these memories impact their current mental state.

When we apply these principles to music, it becomes clear how potent lyrics can be.

Singing along to songs with harmful lyrics can reinforce these ideas in our minds, much like repeating a negative affirmation.

Over time, this can affect our mood, outlook, and behavior, often without us even realizing it.

My Personal Experience in Programming the Mind

I’m always looking for that extra edge at the poker table. Early in my career, I realized that mental fortitude was crucial to success.

I often tilted—a term describing a player who loses focus and begins playing poorly or chasing losses. During long sessions, I’d let a single bad hand or bad beat unravel hours of hard work. (This was so bad, my friends nicknamed me “TilTorelli”!)

In addition to studying tactical strategies, I sought out a mental coach to work on my performance, composure, and resilience.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I embarked on a profound journey that helped me become the person I am today. Over the years, I’ve worked with various coaches, using practices like hypnosis, affirmations, meditation, and visualization.

Through this process, I learned the power of suggestion on the subconscious mind. In my hypnosis sessions, for example, I worked with my coach to implant phrases deep into my subconscious about how I wanted to think, perform, and act at the poker table. It’s a way of programming the mind, similar to writing code for a software app.

These personal experiences in improving my mental game have shaped how I think about the world. I’ve become vigilant about what I put into my brain because I know the impact it can have, whether I’m consciously aware of it or not.

From television and the news to music and social media, everything contributes to shaping our thoughts and worldview, which in turn affects our behavior and ultimately determines our life situation.

Perhaps nothing has been more shocking than realizing the content of the lyrics I used to regularly sing along to.

Uplifting and Positive Music

Given the powerful influence of music on our subconscious, it’s crucial to be mindful of what we listen to.

By consciously choosing to listen to positive, uplifting music, we can start to reprogram our minds with healthier, more constructive messages.

This doesn’t mean we have to give up our favorite genres entirely, but rather seek out songs within those genres that promote positivity and well-being.

For instance, country music often features themes of resilience, love, and overcoming adversity.

Listening to songs that highlight these themes can provide a much-needed boost to our mental and emotional state.

Thomas Rhett, is one of the world’s most popular country artists, and a recent favorite of mine. His song Unforgettable, highlights his genuine infatuation with his partner.

And I bet right now you're probably thinkin'
That it's crazy I remember every detail, but I do
From your blue jeans to your shoes
Girl, that night was just like you
Unforgettable

I want more thoughts like this being programmed in my head. By making a conscious effort to detox from negative music and replace it with positive alternatives, we can create a healthier mental environment for ourselves.

Conclusion

Music is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool that can shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

By becoming aware of the impact of the lyrics we sing along to and making a deliberate choice to listen to positive, uplifting music, we can harness this power for our benefit.

It’s time to take control of our mental programming and create a soundtrack for our lives that promotes positivity, resilience, and well-being.

Alec

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