| |
| |
|
Creativity Information |
|
|
|
Mindfulness and Music: Things That Go Hmmm
Shhh... can you hear it? One of the most powerful forms of mindfulness is awareness of sound. We tend to tune out the noise of our lives in order to concentrate on the tasks at hand. In fact, we may get so used to a particular sound that we don't notice it until it's gone-like a television that is turned off, or traffic that stops outside your home, or your neighbor's lawn mower or stereo that is suddenly silent. We notice when it starts, we intentionally shut it out, and then notice it once again when it stops. Everyone who hears has a healthy serving of what is called musical intelligence. It isn't limited to actual music, however-it is our recognition and understanding of the pitch, tone, quality, length, volume and source of the sounds around us. Now, some of us might have perfect pitch, knowing instantly that the note we hear is a middle C. Others might have a very well-developed sense of tone quality-noting the difference between a middle C played on a piano or a flute, or even the same note sung by two different people. And some of us might consider ourselves completely hopeless as musicians while having an encyclopedic memory for song lyrics, guitar riffs, or even the songs of birds. The great news is that, no matter where we stand on the music smarts scale, we each have the capacity to increase our musical intelligence. Better yet, by focusing on selected sounds as triggers for mindfulness, we can sharpen our awareness and increase our enjoyment of the world around us at the same time. Here's a little mindfulness game to help you zero in on sound as a trigger for greater awareness: Notice "Hmmm." You might hear someone say "Hmmm" when they are trying to remember something or trying to make a decision. They might use it to show skepticism or wonder, inspiration or frustration. It might be low and long, or high and short. It could be very soft or quite loud. Is it ascending or descending? Is it aspirated? Is it musical? Using "Hmmm" as a mindfulness cue allows you to: 1) Notice a selected trigger 2) Take a moment to note the intention, emotion, and sound quality of that particular "Hmmm" 3) Notice that you noticed You are catching yourself in the act of being mindful while you are right smack in the middle of the Real World. This is the essence of playing with mindfulness! By paying attention to this soft exclamation, you can heighten your awareness of sound while also picking up on the subtleties of emotion and expression. It's a great way to use your ears to learn more about interpersonal communication. You will be amazed at what you can learn about others-and their state of mind-by becoming more aware of the way they use this sound. Start noticing "Hmmm" in conversations around you as well as your own. Then, branch out and notice "Hmmm" in movies, television shows, or theater presentations. Finally, tap into your musical intelligence even further by recognizing the sounds that resemble "Hmmm" in machinery or nature. Does the copier sound like "Hmmm"? Does your printer make that sound? How about your dog when you scratch its ears, or your partner sleeping beside you? Start hearing "Hmmm" all around you. It's a fun way to create a few "Hmmm" moments of your own! Maya Talisman Frost is the Mind Masseuse. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Creativity - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the word. Creativity means the capability to build, create something. Creative Drought For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's message, the words, "what will I write?" screaming in my ears. I've felt like the princess who promises her first born child to the little man named "Rumplestiltskin" if only he will spin straw into gold. How To Master Your Game Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right way. Start out by finding the people and books that will make you exceptional. Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box I happened to overhear a conversation the other day between two men?Young man has started learning about real estate investing. He has read books and attended seminars put on by some gurus who make more money selling information about real estate investing than they do investing in real estate BUT at least he is taking the initiative to learn more. Creativity Management - Working From Real Life Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas. Breathing Out Stage Fright You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and last minute stage directions. In the audience are the director you'd like to work with, the reviewer everyone listens to, and your first acting coach. Creativity Management - Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable and useable. In terms of measurement, benchmarking and improvement, the first step is to decide on definitions, the second is to decide on methods of measurement and finally, to monitor each measurement for improvement. Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon It seems like this week a ton of people have been asking me how they can become more creative. I even had one client jokingly accuse me of being in cahoots with the Devil in trade for my creativity. How A Creation Box Can Work For You Bring to mind a time when you decided that you wanted something in your life; a vacation, a special book, or a household item. Did you notice that things relating to what you were wanting appeared out of nowhere--either you overheard someone talking about it, noticed an advertisement, a billboard or even junk mail? This, my friends, is the power of the Law of Attraction at work. Sharing Our Creative Work with Others In my "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, I ask the question:"What's your first thought if someone hesitates before giving you their opinion about your creative project?"One artist wrote: "When some one hesitates before giving their opinion of my work, I think it is going to be negative; I recently showed some work to my boss and her criticism was so harsh that I now won't show her anything, but the worse part is--it made me even more conscious of showing my work to others as well. She was going through some hard stuff at the time, so my timing was way off. Creativity and Communication Lessons from Crossing the Street Spring is in full bloom, which means it's 'get back in shape time!' For me, that means strapping on the sneakers and going for a run (well, at this stage it's more of a slow loping jog.. Creativity Management - Don't Write, Rewrite Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas. Art of Creation with Attention Attention is the greatest creative power in the world. If you command your attention, you command your creation/life. Connect with Your Surroundings Clutter is one of my favourite topics, and I've written before about the many different types of clutter and how each affects our creativity and our creative expression.Clutter is just one part of our surroundings - our physical environment - that has an impact on our creativity. Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1) How many times does an artist stare down at that blank piece of paper thinking "What on earth do I paint - Where do I put my first mark?" More often than you would imagine! It happens to all creative people actually, from visual artists, designers, poets, through to musicians and writers.When this situation arises, you are in the grip of creative block. Innovation Through Concept-Combination There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors to come up with new solutions to old problems. For sheer innovation, though, it's hard to beat the technique of concept-combination. Push The Right Button You can live a much more successful life than you think! Just push the right button and see how it opens the doors of success for you. Yes, its so simple and easy. Creativity and Inspiration Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world of the mystic all is one. Make EVERY DAY An Artist Retreat Day What do you enjoy most about going on an Artist Retreat Day? For most of us it's getting away from our "normal routine", having our creativity sparked by new surroundings and having the luxury of "open time" to work on our creative projects.A retreat gives us the opportunity to step outside the day-to-day and look at the big picture of our creative dreams. The Optimal Mind State Let's begin by defining the optimal mind state and the power it will give you to channel your energy toward your desired outcome. The optimal mind state is a quality of attention that leads to the highest level of concentration.
|
| home | site map | Ocean Art |
| © 2006 |
