March 12, 2010
Let Your Spirit Soar And Play An Air Guitar!
We live in a left brain world. What does this mean? Well, in a nutshell, the human brain is split down the middle into two halves. There are only small bridges connecting the halves, so they act virtually independently.
The left brain is the one that houses the speech and language centers. We have become so conditioned to rely on speech, logic and other left brain functions that many of us are not even able to easily access the right brain except in our dreams. We even think in words, constantly engaging in an inner dialog with nobody but oneself!
The right brain is where are emotions and imagination express themselves. We have been conditioned by our society to predominantly use only our left brains and many psychologists believe that it is important for us to break out of that habit by consciously learning to use our imagination. Learning to play air guitar is a great way to do that. Learning to use your right brain is like taking off a heavy black helmet that has been keeping you captive in your left brain's speech and logic centers.
If you choose, you can use something else for your imaginative journey, but for this example, we will choose music. Imagine you just picked up a beautiful new Dreadnought acoustic guitar. As long as your choice of media is not language-based, anything will do.
If you like, go into an imaginary guitar store and choose another brand, like a Takamine acoustic guitar. We're not trying to promote a particular brand, here. The idea is to choose an instrument that you can identify with to use as your air guitar. Once you have chosen it, feel it in your hands and look at how beautiful it is. Now start strumming on your imaginary guitar. See what comes into your head. It may be a favorite riff or you might even find yourself playing your very own original composition.
Try to hear the music playing in your mind. If you can, you are doing well! Your right brain has been activated. Before long, you will probably find the images and music fading and being replaced with words. You have used your left brain only for so long that it is going to try and take over just by habit. A good way to prolong your right brain journey is to fill in the experience by seeing yourself standing in front of an audience and playing for them.
If you have been successful in your imaginary exercise, you will feel refreshed and enlivened after you open your eyes. The right brain is limitless. Give it a chance to speak to you and you will be astounded by what a change it can make in your life!
Filed under Ballroom Dancing Classes by Francine