From Chaos to Clarity: How Switching My Music Changed My Mindset
By Hunter Grimm
There was a time when my playlist mirrored my chaos.
Heavy beats, fast bars, lyrics laced with sex, drugs, and ego-driven ambition — it pumped me up, sure. But it also kept my nervous system on edge and my spirit in survival mode. I thought I needed that intensity to feel something. What I didn’t realize was that I was feeding the very noise I wanted to escape from.
Now? It’s a different story.
The Sounds We Feed Ourselves Matter
Music is more than entertainment — it’s frequency, emotion, and information. I used to laugh at phrases like “high-vibe music” or “healing frequencies”... until I experienced their impact.
When I started switching my music — from chaotic rap to ambient zen, lo-fi beats, meditation tracks, and soft instrumental — everything changed. It wasn’t overnight. But over time, I noticed:
My thoughts were calmer
My mood swings weren’t so sharp
I felt grounded, even when life was wild
I still love a good beat, but I’m more intentional now. Not every song deserves space in my head.
Music That Supports My Mental Health
Here’s what I’ve been exploring lately:
Zen or Meditation Stations – Pandora’s “Zen Garden Radio” is a go-to.
YouTube Vibes – Try channels like Healing Vibrations, Yellow Brick Cinema, or chill lofi livestreams.
Podcasts That Nourish – Aubrey Marcus, Jay Shetty, and even neuroscience-based shows that explore habits, identity, and growth.
These sounds aren’t just background noise — they support my healing.
When Learning Becomes Overload
It’s easy to binge information. But I’ve learned something important:
More content isn’t more clarity.
Action > Inspiration. Integration > Information.
So I try to ask myself:
Am I actually applying what I’m hearing? Or am I using it to escape?
Podcasts and music can be tools — or distractions. And I want to be present, not just consuming endlessly.
Why I Made the Shift
The truth is, I’m not judging the music I used to love. There’s a time and place for everything. But now, I’m in a season where peace is more valuable than hype. Where healing is louder than flexing. Where silence between notes helps me hear myself more clearly.
And if you're in that same place — craving calm, craving clarity — I promise, it starts with what you feed your mind. Even the beats matter.
What I’m Doing Differently
I set intentional soundtracks for my day (different vibes for mornings, work, evening wind-down)
I listen to less lyrical content, more frequencies and moods
I use music to regulate my nervous system, not just entertain
I pause and reflect after each podcast, even for 2 minutes
I track how I feel after listening — energy, mood, tension
In Conclusion
Switching my soundtrack wasn’t about becoming “better” — it was about becoming me. Quieter, steadier, more in tune. You don’t have to ditch your old music completely. Just listen with awareness. Ask: What is this sound doing to me?
Because when you change what you hear, you change what you feel.
And when you change what you feel, you change what you create.
