Mastering the Art of Communication
I can’t Practice what I cannot Distinguish
Beneath the surface of every polished performance lies the crucial skill of distinguishing. For instance, in sports or dance, athletes and performers must distinguish between precise movements and body positions. This allows them to execute intricate routines, maintain balance, and perform with grace and precision. A chef relies on their ability to distinguish between various flavors and textures in ingredients. This skill enables them to create well-balanced and delicious dishes by combining ingredients that complement each other while avoiding clashes in taste and texture.
People say practice makes perfect. In truth, you cannot practice what you cannot distinguish because the foundation of practice rests on recognizing and refining distinctions, not blind repetition.
The ability to make distinctions while communicating or delivering a speech or presentation grants you greater control over your message and skills. Technique, too, hinges on the power of distinction. Neglecting to distinguish gestures or postures as tools for audience impact can significantly diminish your effectiveness.
In the realm of speaking and communication, there exist two fundamental dimensions that demand our attention: the world of thoughts and the world of physical sensations. These dimensions are distinctly separate. The world of thoughts is a realm of comparisons, computations, separations, conceptualizations, and projections. In contrast, the world of sensations exists as a realm of energetic vibrations where everything is sensed and felt. Vision, hearing, touch, smell, sound, and more, all come alive and distinguish themselves through the dynamic interplay of energy in the physical world.
In the context of speaking and communicating, the art of distinction is paramount. What we can distinguish empowers us with greater freedom of expression and confidence. For instance, imagine a world where we couldn’t distinguish right from left; it would turn life into an ordeal. The mind’s capacity to compute relies on our ability to distinguish. A square is not a triangle, and these distinctions matter.
The dimensions of the body and physical sensations serve as a solid foundation for speakers and communicators, offering confidence and stability. In contrast, the thought dimension can be treacherous in the realm of public speaking and business communication due to its inherently conceptual nature. A prime example is that words must be heard through sound before they can be understood as concepts. Similarly, one cannot will anything into existence without engaging the body and the senses. When you reach for that glass of water on the podium, it is an act rooted in the physical, not merely a conceptual notion.
This tip underscores the importance of paying closer attention to how much our presentations and daily communications are influenced by the rules of the physical world. The mental realm is where anxiety, stress, and tension often originate. Conversely, the physical realm serves as an effective tension shock absorber. Only the physical world truly grounds us. You can instruct your mind to relax for an eternity, but it will remain ineffective until your body reconnects you to the world of sensations. What you can touch, smell, see, feel, and hear constitutes reality. Anything beyond that remains abstract.
In conclusion, mastering the art of distinguishing between the mental and physical dimensions is the key to effective communication. Embracing the physical realm as the anchor for your expressions will not only enhance your confidence but also elevate the impact of your words and gestures. In a world where distinctions matter, it’s the ability to bridge these two dimensions that sets you apart as a truly impactful communicator.
