The example given in the piece was about playing music. It was a person describing that although a person can learn a piece to perfection, it doesn't begin to sound good until the head stops thinking and the heart starts playing the piece. Now, beyond the whole argument that this definition of "sounding good" is merely the undescribeable notions of an elitist zealot, there is a general perception that somethings are done better when you don't "think" about doing them.
There are obvious counter examples to this: Anything safety related is better when you think each step through as you do it. However there are also many examples where doing something on autopilot gives better results. Music, art, even writing all seem to fit, which brings me to my topic. If you have never played an instrument or picked up a brush, could you "think with your heart" ?
The NPR piece stated that in order to think with your heart, you must quiet the noise coming from your head. I don't think that this is the case. Instead, the heart is mearly the conductor of the orchestra. When the orchestra is filled with 6th graders new to music, it doesn't matter how hard the conductor tries. Many middle school music teachers would attest to this. On the other hand, when the orchestra is well versed in music, the players watch the conductor and follow his cues instead of focusing on the music. The conductor needs the music to work with. If you "quiet the noise from your head" there will be nothing for the heart to work with.
What sorts of activities can become second nature? It is easy to see how physical activities such as chewing, walking, swimming, gymnastics, sports, driving and physical labor can become mindless activities. But what about mental activities? Can writing become second nature? What about music? Chess? Math? Can anything be practiced to the point where it becomes natural? What about social interactions? Social intereactions are natural for almost everybody, and yet we still mess them up all of the time. I don't have the answer to that.
I do know that I have been "in the zone" before. I have seen articles and discussions on how to reach the zone more easily. But all of those resources left out an important piece. You must know what you are doing, before it can be second nature.
Oh, and here is a picture of an ice cream truck:
3 comments:
My freakishly insightful and funny LB--thanks for that post.
I LOVE the ice cream truck! And i love you too!
Just read all of your entries--yes, you are a philosopher, a photographer, and phunny, too! Good luck as you return to your Fla. work, and keep bloggin'. Mathmom
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