Research shows us that mood and emotion are correlated.  What we feel predicts, to some extent, what we think about and how we think about it.  So, for this exercise let's try an experiment.  Choose two different songs from your music collection:  choose one that reliably leads to some sadness when you hear it and choose one that reliably leads to joy or exhilaration when you listen to it.

Set aside some time when you can listen to these two songs and not be interrupted or distracted by other things --- like your phone, your roommates, you computer, your body telling you its hungry.  In other words, create a time when you can focus on this completely.

What you will do is play the first song, complete a little exercise.  Stop for 5 minutes and read something from your textbook (this is to allow time for your mood to reach baseline again).  Then listen to the second song and complete the same exercise.  

Begin by noting your mood.  Do this formally.  Write it down -- I will ask you to turn in the baseline rating.  Now turn on the first song and listen to it closely, let it really sink into you and feel the music.  If you need to, listen to it a second time.  Turn it up loud.  Put on headphones.  Do what it takes to really connect to the song.  Make note of your mood again.  Did it change?  If not, you might want to consider a different song that impacts you more.

Now, do a little free writing for 5 minutes.  Don't edit or over think.  Just write.  Keep it personal.  Write about your life and how things are going, write about any memories that come to mind.  If any self reflection comes up... put that in.  Write about any things in your life that seem particularly salient for you right now ---  After you've written your paragraph --- pretend that it is going to turn into a full length memoir at some point.  Give your memoir a title (choose a title that relates to the content of what you wrote -- be spontaneous and choose impulsively/ don't over think this or try to be particularly clever).

Ok, set that aside.  Take a few breaths and pull out a textbook.  Read something that will not impact you emotionally for about 5-10 minutes.  The purpose of this is just to shift your mind/ body/ focus back to baseline.  After 5-10 minutes... start part two of the experiment.

Begin by noting your mood.  Do this formally.  Write it down.  Now turn on the second song and listen to it closely, let it really sink into you and feel the music.  If you need to, listen to it a second time.  Make note of your mood again.  Did it change?  If not, you might want to consider a different song that impacts you more.

Again, do a little free writing for 5 minutes.  Don't edit or over think.  Just write.  Keep it personal.  Write about your life and how things are going, write about any memories that come to mind.  Just let things flow out in a sort of stream of consciousness sort of way --- but focus on yourself. After you've written your paragraph --- pretend that it is going to turn into a full length memoir at some point.  Give your memoir a title (choose a title that relates to the content of what you wrote -- be spontaneous and choose impulsively/ don't over think this or try to be particularly clever).

When you have completed all the parts to the experiment, go back and read the two paragraphs you've written and the titles you chose.  Note any differences or similarities in what you wrote after the two different songs, notice the two titles and how they are the same or different.  Look for any linkages of your thinking to the emotions you report having during the exercise.   Take some time to reflect on this and come up with 2 or 3 concrete things you can discuss.

Write up a brief paper that notes all of the following:
1. the two songs you chose
2. the mood before and after each song
3. the title of the memoir that you came up with after each song
4. the 5-10 minute break in between --- what did you read?
5. 1-2 paragraphs discussing any interesting linkages that you found between the music and your mood and between
    your mood and the content or style of thinking that emerged for you during/ after the songs.  You may reveal as
    much or as little of the actual content (you may prefer to keep this private and that is fine).  But take the time to
    reflect carefully and openly on the way your thinking was impacted throughout the exercise.

Note: please take the time to actually do the experiment.  When you write up what you think will happen as thought it did
happen I can tell that you didn't actually have the experience.  I won't give credit unless it is clear that you did all the
steps to the experiment.

Label this work as Emotion Exercise 3 with your name and the date.