Unjumbling the Jumble: Strategies for Clearer Thinking and Communication

Why my brain got to jumble?

You know when you are trying to explain something and you can’t quite articulate what it is you are seeing or feeling in your mind? I have this all the time in creative processes where I want to contribute but my vocabulary and expression just can not muster the right sentence to explain it. I tend to always jump straight into a movement and compare it to another movement to prove what it is I do mean, not what I don’t.

A few weeks ago Liz Cornish, during Deanne Butterworth’s practice sharing, came to a beautiful concept to help aid this dilemma. A Word Cloud. That is a muster of words that together equal what I am trying to communicate. I think this is the first step of strategically approaching expressing my opinion and ideas in a creative space.

After an improv, I sit buzzing with words and feelings unable to slow down and pinpoint what It is that I am trying to express. Meanwhile, I listen in complete captivation as another can almost immediately gather their analyses of what occurred for them. Wow. It’s such a wonderful moment that I get a glimpse into their internal experience. But, how can I offer the same? Instead it gets to me and I’m all “You know…that thing was great…that not so good…but I think I found this which is good.” Immediately afterwards I berate myself internally. I think, where has that analytical mind gone.

Lately, I have been honing in on my listening skills. First, focusing on my breath (much like in a meditation) and then transferring my focus onto someone else verbally articulating their judgements/perspective. This has allowed me to listen to how their articulation is constructed for better comprehension from others listening.

I've also noticed lately that I need to build confidence in what stuck with me and the feeling that goes with it. Thoughts bully me into thinking what I gathered as valid and important are actually inaccurate and insignificant. This only holds me back from supporting the group discussion and it leaves me feeling inadequate. This is something I am really trying to hone in on for the next few months.

All of these set backs are all remedied through awareness. Awareness of self, other and the space around. Here is a little something from Rumi to finish us off, "The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen."