But there is another level to sound. In ancient India the Vedas told of the sacred sound of OM (spelled AUM for them). This sacred vowel sound was supposed to have all of the power of liberation from death and rebirth and an end of suffering contained within it.

For many of you who are yoga practitioners out there, you are familiar with OM. However, sacred sound is not just for yoga or for those seeking something spiritual. Music and Sound can help to shift us from negative thinking to positive. There is sacred sound all around us.

We have all had that experience where music can change our mood, so why not use that experience during a difficult time. Establish what I like to call, "a song of great power". This is a song that always makes you feel uplifted when you here it. It is a song that reminds you of all the positive things in the world.

This one song is a link to shifting your mood from negative back into positive. Once you have chosen a song, use it every time you feel stressed, afraid, depressed, or angry. Hum this song to yourself and feel the sound of it inside of your body. After a few times of practicing this, you will be amazed to see how quickly your mood can shift.

This song doesn't have to be a famous one, it simply has to be something that you feel personally aligned with. Admittedly, my song comes from a video game that I loved and helped me get through some tough times. But the power of the song is not diminished by its source so long as you feel aligned with it, it will have power.

Instead of whistling while you work, I say, hum while you work.

Michael Kilman