The Message and Meaning in Lyrics

When individuals understand where they find meaning in their own lives they understand a little more about themselves (Steger, 2009). This self-understanding is important for many reasons. It may provide clarity into who we are and how we make decisions. The more meaning you have in your life the higher your well-being (Campbell, 1990). Researchers have looked at the role of meaning in the workplace and have discovered that the more meaning in the 16 workplace can lead to more personal fulfillment, higher engagement and motivation, and better career development (Wrezeniewski, Berg, & Dutton 2010; Wrzeniewski 2003). In a study of 143 college undergraduates, Spiritual meaning has also been researched as a buffer against stress and found to act as a buffer against stressful situations (Mascaro & Rosen, 2006). Students with high levels of spiritual meaning showed less daily stress and depression as measured by the Life Regard Index-Revised, a 14 self-report scale that measures the framework or philosophy for living, and Frankl (1963) writes that when we come across a roadblock to a goal we are more likely to resist stress and persevere if we find meaning. Like positive emotions, the ability to find meaning is an area we can cultivate. Fields such as narrative therapy help people change the meaning they give to the stories they themselves, transforming self-image (Brown & Augusta-Scott, 2007). By transforming this selfimage it gives the individual a meaningful way to connect to past and present circumstances allowing for the ability to make sense of their lives and the world around them (Brown & Augusta-Scott, 2007). As we find meaning in our surroundings and our stories it is important to look at the messages we receive on a daily basis and how we might interpret them. Teenagers are some of the biggest consumers of music lyricswoow. Laurence Steinberg’s (2014) research on adolescents says that the plasticity in the brain is at prime time for learning, soaking in every bit of the environment. Teenagers are at the second most impressionable age, almost as impressionable as they are during the first two years of life (Steinberg, 2014). Music is widely accessible (Levatin, 2006). The trouble is that a lot of popular music seems to have a message that damages self-image and encourages toxic behavior, yet these are anthems in locker rooms, teenage cars, and dance floors. I remember sitting down to learn the lyrics to “Baby Got Back”

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