| Everyone's a poet.Of course, everyone's | | | | can easily and enjoyably boost your word |
| a critic, too! This means that | | | | awareness by1) selecting a particular |
| there are plenty of opportunities to | | | | cue word as a trigger for mindfulness, |
| heighten our awareness | | | | or2) focusing on phrases used in |
| of words and how we use them.Words | | | | specific settings.Better yet, try |
| create pictures, and just as a painter | | | | both!By using a particular word as a |
| uses a combination | | | | mindfulness trigger, you can |
| of colors and strokes to express a | | | | watch how others create poetic |
| concept, we offer an artistic | | | | representations of the same |
| rendering of thoughts through carefully | | | | element.Ready for your secret food |
| chosen words.Our linguistic intelligence | | | | awareness word? |
| is what allows us to both recognize | | | | Here it is: morsel.Listening for a |
| and generate vivid word vignettes. | | | | specific word will develop your ability |
| Whether you enjoy novels, | | | | to |
| biographies, mysteries, sonnets, haiku, | | | | make distinctions in the way it is used |
| song lyrics, conversations, | | | | and allow you to |
| soliloquies, or newspaper stories, you | | | | watch for subtle variations. Does |
| can develop greater word | | | | "morsel" refer to |
| awareness by focusing on descriptive | | | | something creamy or chewy? Is it |
| phrases.In our everyday speech, we tend | | | | savory or sweet?To play with poetry and |
| to speak in phrases and | | | | mindfulness at the same time, |
| punctuate these with expressions, | | | | notice phrases used to describe food. |
| pauses, gestures, or laughter. | | | | Listen to them |
| Although the words themselves convey | | | | with an ear for rhythm, and picture |
| meaning, the total picture | | | | them as lines of a poem.Read menu |
| we create is a combination of | | | | descriptions, food articles or cookbooks |
| inflection, context, juxtaposition, | | | | and |
| and even eye contact.Don't think you | | | | be aware of the adjectives most likely |
| have your own personal poetry style? | | | | to get your mouth |
| Think again. | | | | watering. Sensual words like |
| You use words in your own way, and it's | | | | "succulent" and "luscious" |
| likely that, given an | | | | elicit physiological responses. Pay |
| assignment to express a particular | | | | attention to those, and |
| concept, your version would | | | | listen for the phrases you hear that |
| have recognizable elements.Try this | | | | create especially vivid |
| test: describe a birthday cake.There's | | | | sense experiences.Linking word pictures |
| a good chance that you would use words | | | | with taste helps us anchor our |
| to express | | | | linguistic intelligence with our bodily |
| the shape, flavor, color, decoration, | | | | intelligence, and this |
| ingredients, size, and | | | | makes our mouths very happy |
| presentation of a cake, and that the | | | | indeed.Delectable words,Delicious |
| precise way you do that | | | | poetry. Mmmm--True taste sensation.Maya |
| would be unique when compared to | | | | Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in |
| others' descriptions. In | | | | Portland, Oregon. Through her company, |
| addition, you're likely to come up with | | | | Real-World Mindfulness Training, she |
| a different description | | | | teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open |
| if asked to do so a month from now.You | | | | alternatives to meditation. |