While stress, work and worry dominate life, it’s vital to keep one’s psyche balanced, calm and sound. Dealing with life’s obstacles is what determines a person’s stability, effectiveness and success.

We all develop personal mental support systems to combat anguish. It’s the way to liberate the mind from those pesky issues that can control the content of free thoughts. The severity of this need for release depends on optimism.

After interpersonal contact, many people are left with media as their therapist. Whether it’s the tube, a tune or somebody’s printed words (like mine), media serves as a great mechanism to divert and unwind your mind. This is especially true for people who are less inclined toward art or creative writing.

The key to being happy in life lies in one’s degree of positivity. Sure, situations occur that call for protest or action, but defeating an evil – or being defeated by one – can be done with a smile.

There are too many people who allow life to derail their moods. These people spew their rage and irritation like a sprinkler upon those nearby.

We don’t live long enough to waste our time feeling awful. That’s why humans started making music.

Here’s what I’ve gained and/or improved upon because of music: inspiration, optimism, creativity, communication, work ethic, cooperation, loyalty, interpretive ability, knowledge and sensitivity. That, and it equals writing as a life passion of mine.

The way life inspires music, and vice-versa, is simply fascinating. It makes sense that some of the best songs come from the greatest personal hardships, because it all goes back to overcoming personal obstacles, achieving goals and not letting one disappointment get you down.

Don McLean’s “American Pie” is a classic example of how a tragedy (the Feb. 3, 1959, deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson in a plane crash, known as “the day the music died”) inspired one of most well-known and widely loved songs of all time.

Music gets along with any emotion. Ever since I increased my daily dosage of this art (right after I started college), my demeanor and mental state have become progressively more positive.

Each morning (or afternoon), I’ll listen to a few songs in the shower before grabbing some headphones to soundtrack my journey to class or work. I later massage my mind with music between classes and sometimes while I’m working. And when I’m at home, a song is always on.

If you don’t listen to a lot of music, you probably should listen to more. The world’s musical variety is so vast that there’s something to send shivers down anyone’s spine – and that’s what it’s all about.

The materialistic nature of music (and other art) allows it to be there whenever you need it. Take advantage, because it’s made for you, and it just might make your day.

S.A. Martinez, 311’s co-lead vocalist, once said, “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity.” Those are great words to live by.