Sad Songs Make Us Happy

Sometimes when you're having a bad day, there's nothing better than listening to a sad song. It sounds weird but it makes you feel better. Really! According to scientists, sad music actually has a positive effect on the listener's mood.  They say it lifts our spirits. It also has a significant positive effect on our emotional well-being.

A recent study found that the listeners feel nostalgic for happier times and places in their lives when they listen to the sad tunes. But how can nostalgia lift our moods? Well, it can remind us of who we once were and how we overcame challenges in the past. These memories make us feel less alone and happier when we hear sad songs! The listener identifies himself with the lyrics of a sad song. And so, the listener can empathize with other people. He understands that they also share experiences of rejection, loss, unrequited love, misfortune, or other themes characteristic of sad songs. Makes sense right? Basically we're self-soothing ourselves and lifting our own spirits!

So next time you're feeling down in the dumps, grab your headphones and listen to your favourite sad song to work through whatever's troubling you. Odds are you'll feel better in the end. A lot.