I watch around 2-3 movies every week. Almost all of the time I listen to one or the other type of music, and I can talk for hours about why India lost the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand. I am invested in them so much that it feels like they have become a part of life. And it’s more than just the investment of time. It is about the way these things shape our thoughts, ideas, and actions. To England fans beating Italy fans after the Euro defeat, to people imitating Joker to an extent where it inspires crimes, to people feeling goosebumps every time they hear their National Anthem. You see, Music, Movies, and Sports alter our behaviour in so many different ways, yet most of us choose to consume this content without actually being aware of it or conscious enough to find out why we watch this stuff.

I was in the same place, so I decided to find out my WHY for the holy trio and here’s what I came up with:

Music: I listen to music because it evokes/amplifies my emotions. You see, there’s a reason why people are filled with hope when Chris Martin says, ‘Lights will guide you home….”. I don’t know much about music, but I know for sure that there is something about this combination of lyrics and melody that I can use to entertain my different emotional states. So, next time when you feel sad and want to let go of your emotions, tune into a sad song from one of your favorite artists.

Movies: I watch movies to live different experiences. Those experiences can be of a situation or of a person. You can be in Chernobyl feeling saddened by the disaster, or you can be Walter White pretending to be good, but in reality, you are already breaking bad. Still, all you are essentially doing is living the experiences of that situation or of that person. Some might argue that movies also evoke emotions as music does, so what’s the difference? To which I say yes, but unlike music, you don’t feel those emotions for yourself. You feel those mainly for the character whose experiences you are living through that movie. So next time when you feel like going on a trip in a lockdown, watching ZNMD might help :P.

Sports: Things are very different with Sports. The only word that comes to mind when I think of sports is Passion. How many times does a country celebrate its movie winning an Oscar? But when a country wins a World Cup in any Sports, that’s when the fun begins. People collectively feel proud to the extent that they celebrate by bursting crackers and whatnot. It’s a thing of National Pride. Sports not only entertain but also inspire generations to come. And this can happen only when you are genuinely passionate about something. The 1983 WC win inspired someone to become Sachin Tendulkar, who inspired someone to become a Kohli. So next time when you want to get inspired, reading the story of a famous Olympian named Karoly Takacs might help.

So this was the answer to my WHY. This little thought experiment helped me to become more conscious about what I consume. So, next time I want to cater to my mood, I know exactly where to tune in. And above all, it helped me organize my learnings through all forms of media that I consume.

The answer to your WHY can most certainly be different. But whatever it is, I would recommend you to conduct this small thought experiment and find out your WHY for The Holy Trio ;)