12 Languages of the Mind: Feel, Symbol, Music (Part 4 of 4)

Creative communication is not only about speaking and power writing. Creative communication is also about listening, feeling, and understanding. It’s the ability to share your ideas and feelings in a way that is meaningful to others. When you do this, you can embrace the powers of communication with the people around you.

We’ve already gone over nine of the other 12 languages of the mind. This article will touch on the last three languages: feel, symbol, and music. Each of these languages is a way of communicating that can be used to create powerful connections and poetic communication with others. It can be anything from poetry writing to speaking. When you’re able to use creativity in communication, you can form a connection with others that is much more than just creative communication in writing.

You can use these communication skills, write a poem, or use a creative journal when working toward effective communication.

Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication

In the third 12 languages of the mind article, I mentioned that understanding body language and non-verbal communication is really valuable. That is because we communicate in more ways than just speaking. The words you say only make up a tiny fraction of what you communicate.

The way you carry yourself, the expressions on your face, and your tone of voice communicate much more than the words you say. To be a great communicator requires understanding how to use body language and non-verbal communication effectively.

One way to do this is by using proxemics or studying how people use space to communicate. Proxemics can be used to create rapport. That is because they are ways of communicating that don’t involve words. When you can use body language and non-verbal communication, you can make a connection with others that is much more than words.

The best way to learn to use these languages is to pay attention to the people around you. Observe how they use body language and non-verbal communication to communicate. Then, try to imitate what you see. With time and practice, you’ll be able to use these languages fluently.

When using body language and non-verbal communication, you must be aware of the different cultures around you. Different cultures have different ways of interpreting body language and non-verbal communication. What might be polite in one culture could be considered rude in another.

So, if you’re planning to travel or work in a foreign country, it’s a good idea to research the culture before you go. That way, you’ll know what kinds of body language and non-verbal communication are appropriate.

Particularly, pay attention to:

Facial Expressions

In some cultures, making certain facial expressions is seen as rude.

For example, in Japan, people often avoid making eye contact. In others, like the United States, making eye contact is polite.

Another example is the use of facial expressions to show emotions. In the U. S. it’s common to smile when you’re happy and to frown when you’re sad. But in some cultures, such as China, people tend to keep a neutral expression most of the time.

Gestures

Hand gestures can have different meanings in different cultures. For example, waving goodbye with your palm facing down in many Western cultures is considered impolite. But in some Asian cultures, such as Thailand, this gesture actually means hello.

Another example is the “OK” sign. In the U. S., making an “OK” sign with your hand (forming a circle with your thumb and first two fingers) is a positive gesture that means everything is good. But in some cultures, such as Brazil, this gesture is considered rude.

Body Movements

How you move your body can also send different messages in different cultures. For example, standing too close to someone else in some cultures is considered rude. But in other cultures, such as the U. S., this gesture is considered friendly.

Another example is the way you shake someone’s hand. A firm handshake is considered a sign of respect in the U. S. But in some cultures, such as Japan, shaking hands is not common practice.

When communicating with people from other cultures, it’s essential to be aware of the differences in nonverbal communication. Also, be mindful of the nonverbal cues you’re sending and receiving to ensure that your message is clear.

Something polite in your culture doesn’t mean someone will interpret it that way in another culture. Pay attention to facial expressions, gestures, and body movements to ensure your message is clear.

You might not think your company needs help understanding nonverbal communication, but you’d be surprised. Different cultures have different expectations and norms when it comes to nonverbal communication. If you have employees or customers from other cultures, it’s critical to be aware of the differences.

If you’re unsure how to interpret nonverbal communication, Wizard of Ads® can help you strategize an effective marketing and creative communication plan. Book a call with Ryan Chute today.

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12 Languages of the Mind – Feel, Symbol, and Music

The final three languages of the 12 languages of the mind are:

Feel: The language of emotions, which you base on your feelings.

Symbol: The language of visual imagery based on what you see.

Music: The language of sound, based on what you hear.

You can use each of these languages to create powerful marketing messages. When you understand how to speak these languages, you can connect with your audience deeper and build lasting relationships. Each language speaks to a different part of our brain and affects us differently. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Feel

We base the language of feelings on our emotions. Emotions are powerful things– they can make us feel happy, sad, scared, angry, excited, or any other way. Emotions are contagious– if you see someone else feeling happy, you’ll likely start to feel happy too.

When marketing to someone, it’s crucial to consider how they’re feeling. Is your customer happy? Sad? Stressed? Anxious? Understanding their emotional state will help you decide what kind of message to send them in sales.

For example, if someone feels excited to buy a new pool, you can speak about how it fits with their pleasure points, like identity, or adventure. If someone is feeling anxious or stressed because of a broken furnace, you are best to send a message that reassures them that you will make the problem quickly go away for good, addressing their pain points.

To start to understand the way all 12 languages of the mind interconnect, I wanted to explore the language of vulnerability.

In reflecting on some research I’ve been doing around the resonance of energy (radiance), I’ve come to believe that radiance has a physical sensation.

Some call this the Sixth Sense. Intuition. Perception.

Neuroscientists suggest the sixth sense proprioception. The innate awareness of where our limbs and body are in relation to space.

So what is the language of intuition? I argue:

Radiance + Feel = Intuition

What does this have to do with vulnerability? Maybe nothing. But also maybe everything.

Vulnerability and Courage are two sides of the same coin. You simply cannot have one without the other.

If we can define something as subjective as intuition, then we can iterate our way to vulnerability.

To break it down, I looked at each of the constituent languages:

Radiance + Feel: If we agree that radiance and feel are the languages of intuition, then we might agree that intuition is what is compelling us to be courageous. Because you can only have vulnerability in the presence of courage, we might all accept that courage takes a serious volume of radiance (positive energy) equally matched in the vulnerability we impose upon ourselves to be courageous.

Symbols: But what has initiated my intuition? I believe this lies in symbology. Courage is a choice. A threat assessment that is typically unfavorable, but you do it anyway. You step into it. You run toward the bullets, not away. Terrified, you do it anyway. This can only be achieved if there is a symbolic perception of what is right. Virtuous. As courage is a choice, and a prolific one at that, I believe virtue as a symbol would have a multiplier effect, not just additive.

Proximity + Motion: Vulnerability is only necessary when in proximity to a perceived danger. I’m not vulnerable to a caged lion, but I am vulnerable if I am in an exposed position during a firefight. To be courageous, one is vulnerable by default. If you’re not vulnerable, there is nothing to be courageous about. And bravery is stepping into the unknown…the terrifying…the difficult… even when the odds are stacked against you. The more the odds are stacked, the more vulnerable, and therefore, courageous. This is my argument for the languages of courage. Being in proximity to danger and moving toward it, rather than away from it.

Numbers: Speaking of odds, aren’t the odds just a numerical representation of the risk. So if we were to calculate the odds (consciously or subconsciously) we would be dividing into the odds.

Therefore:

((Radiance + Feel) x Symbol) + (Proximity + Motion) / Numbers = Vulnerability

(Intuition x Virtue) + Courage / Odds = Vulnerability

Whew. With an advanced understanding of the 12 languages of the mind, you can really get clear on how to position your brand.

Symbol

We base the language of symbols on meaning. Symbols can be words, images, gestures, objects, or anything else that has a more complex meaning. When we see a symbol, our brain automatically associates it with something else.

For example, when you see a stop sign, you automatically know you must stop your car. When you see the McDonald’s Golden Arcs or Nike Swoosh, you know instantly what they represent.

Symbols are a powerful creative communication tool because they can be combined with the other 12 languages to create complex meaning. For example, symbol + motion = ritual. What kind of ritual could you create for your team with the knowledge of how to create a ritual?

_“The distinct advantage of humans is our ability to attach complex meanings to sound.”

— Roy H. Williams_

The written word has no meaning until we assign it a sound. Music has no meaning until it has a sound. Symbols have no meaning until we assign a complex meaning to them through sounds.

Symbology is quite literally everything in storytelling. When you understand how to leverage symbols, you will multiply your influence quotient.

Symbolic thought is one of 4 different types of thought. Symbolic thought uses the pattern recognition of the right hemisphere of the brain to relate abstract concepts with analytical thoughts.

Meter, metaphor, simile, and personification are all forms of symbolic thought.

Look around at everyday things in your life. What meaning do you assign to them? What do they represent? How could you use them to elevate your brand?

Music

We base the language of music on sound and rhythm. Music is composed of notes played in a specific order and at a certain tempo. This combination of sounds creates a melody you can use to convey emotion and tell a story.

Music is often used in advertising because music is scientifically proven to add stickiness to otherwise unmemorable information. For example, when you want someone to remember your domain name, especially if it is different from your company name, you sing it. This is a powerful way to sneak into the long term memory of the brain undetected.

Music is made up of the following constituent components:

Pitch

Pitch is the proximity of sound. High and low. A dog’s bark might be a lower pitch than a baby’s cry. We perceive pitch through the basilar membrane in our cochlea, which vibrates at different rates depending on the frequency of the sound waves it receives. These vibrations are then converted into electrical impulses and sent to the brain, where you interpret them as pitch.

Key

The key to a sound is its shape. A jet’s sound is different than the sound of a dog’s bark because of their different keys (and also because of their different pitches). The key of a sound is determined by its waveform. A sine wave has a straightforward, pure key, while a square wave has a harsher, more metallic key. A sawtooth wave has a raspy key.

Tempo

The tempo of a sound is its speed of motion. The faster the waves, the higher the tempo.

The speed of music is tempo. What about the tempo of your company, though? Does your team operate with a sense of urgency?

Tempo is the energy of motivation, ambition, passion, and hustler lifestyle.

Tempo is the magical 128 BPM.

Rhythm

The rhythm of a sound is its pattern of repetition. A sound can have a steady rhythm, like a metronome, or a more complex rhythm, like a drum beat. Meter are the different patterns of rhythm. It is the music that is hidden in every one of the 12 languages.

Meter is achieved when sounds are arranged in a predictable rhythm, creating a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. Here’s what Roy has to say about the different types of meter:

• Lambic meter is soft/hard (x /). “That time of year thou mayst in me behold”
• Trochaic meter is hard/soft (/ x). “Tell me not in mournful numbers”
• Spondaic meter is hard/hard (/ /). “Break, break, break/ On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!”
• Anapestic meter is soft-soft/hard (x x /). “And the sound of a voice that is still”
• Dactylic meter is hard/soft-soft (/ x x). “This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlock”

Meter is magnetic. “Bounty. The quicker picker-upper.”

Meter makes slogans sticky.

• Where do you want to go today?” – Microsoft
• It’s everywhere you want to be – VISA
• The ultimate driving machine. – BMW
• When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight. – Federal Express

Meter makes words musical. “My client would not, could not, did not commit these crimes.” – Johnny Cochran

What kind of rhythm does your business have? Are you in cadence with one another, or are you unstructured and clumsy?

Musical Interval

A musical interval is the proximity of two pitches. The distance between two notes is called an interval.

Duke University Deborah Ross’s study “Music intervals in speech” found that people naturally group words into musical phrases.

Ross played subjects with various combinations of tones and found that they could identify which ones sounded “right” together and which ones sounded “wrong.” This ability was specific to intervals– the subjects couldn’t determine whether a note was in tune with another note, only whether the interval between them was pleasant or unpleasant.

The study also found that people have a preferred range of intervals– some people prefer close intervals, while others prefer wider ones. This preference is similar to how some people prefer higher-pitched voices and others prefer lower-pitched ones.

Musical Contour

Musical contour is the shape of the melody line. It is the “ups and downs” of the pitch.

You can think of musical contour as the overall “shape” of a melody. In other words, it is the general direction that the pitch takes over the course of the melody.

The contour of a melody can be rising, falling, or static (neither rising nor falling).

If you want to learn more about the 12 languages of the mind and how to use them in your sales and marketing, check out Wizard of Ads® today. We can help you create an effective and creative communication strategy that will resonate with your target audience. Book a call.