Peace to you!

Each week, the Monk Mindset newsletter comes with:

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 3
Be More Human at Work: Work and Study

Reflection on the Monk Mindset and Quote

When I was in the monastery, we’d chant every day in the chapel as a means of prayer. Occasionally we’d have chant lessons to learn the theory and history of chant – and to make sure we sounded at least decent when we all chanted together. 

One of my favorite chants was in the evening before the “grand silence” – the last thing we said each night before retiring. We’d all stand in the chapel and chant an ancient Latin hymn in honor of Mary. It was like a child singing goodnight to his mother. 

St. Hildegard von Bingen, a visionary abbess, prolific composer, mystic, and healer, was one of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages. She believed that all of creation sings a divine song, and through her groundbreaking music, she sought to bring that sacred harmony into everyday life.

Her soaring chants were not mere performances, but lived prayers and meditations, tools to calm the mind, open the heart, and connect us to something and Someone greater. For Hildegard, music was a spiritual force capable of transforming ordinary moments into acts of praise.

Modern science now confirms what she intuited centuries ago. Chant and slow, meditative music increase alpha brain waves, which promote relaxed focus and mental clarity. This music also slows breathing and heart rate, activating the body’s natural relaxation response and helping us enter a state of calm productivity.

In contrast, fast-paced, loud music, or heavily lyrical music tends to overstimulate the brain, accelerate heart rate, and raise cortisol, making deep concentration more difficult. 

Also, listening to music at work isn’t for everyone and depends somewhat on what works for you and your context. Also, there is a great benefit to just working in silence. Yet, it can be worth trying occasionally to build chant into your work routine.

Put It Into Practice This Week

Before you start your next work session, choose a piece of calming music—Hildegard’s chants, Gregorian chant, or a lofi playlist. Let it play softly as you settle in.

Pay attention to how the music shapes your focus and mood. If your mind wanders or stress creeps in, gently return your attention to the melody for a moment of reset.

Want Some Inspo for Your Chant Work List? Add the Monk Mindset Gregorian Chant List to your Spotify!

Wishing you abundant peace this week,

John