Create New Meaning By Adjusting The Destination of Your Message

Sometimes you talk to yourself.
Sometimes you talk directly to the other person/people right in front of you.
Sometimes you talk to the circumstances unfolding before your eyes.
Sometimes you use your imagination to talk to someone or about something not present.
Sometimes you talk to The Universe/God/Energy/Mother Nature.

In each of the scenarios above, how you deliver the message changes based upon the destination of where you intend the message to land. And in turn, the meaning of the message also changes based upon the destination.

Let's explore this concept through a short monologue. Here's the little script we'll use today.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

SOMETIMES YOU TALK TO YOURSELF.

When you talk to yourself, you point the energy of that message inward. It has a sense of self-reflection or internalization. You are seeking answers to your questions from within. Give this a try now. Say the short monologue and point 100% of your focus and energy internally, inside yourself. Really ask yourself the questions and really contemplate the answers.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• What did you discover?

• What happened to your body/emotions/senses/imagination?

SOMETIMES YOU TALK DIRECTLY TO THE OTHER PERSON/PEOPLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

Now, let's explore talking directly to another person. Find someone you can talk to and practice this version. If you just use your imagination, you're actually exploring the destination coming below after the next one. So, don't skip over this. If you don't have anyone to talk to in the room with you, then pick up the phone and call someone or launch an online video chat so you can talk directly to the other person. When you talk directly to another person, you are looking for what you say to them to pierce their heart and have an affect on them. Give this a try now. Say the short monologue and point 100% of your focus and energy directly to the other person. Really ask them the questions and really allow them to contemplate the answers.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• What did you discover?

• What happened to your body/emotions/senses/imagination?

• What differences did you experience having the destination be the other person and not yourself?

SOMETIMES YOU TALK TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES.

In this version, it's a bit esoteric for some people, but explore it anyway. Turn on the news and wait for the inevitable segment when they air a report on a political rally, a protest or a demonstration of some kind. Or perhaps you could turn the TV on and watch a sporting event. Or if it's safe to be outdoors, perhaps you can go to the Dog Park, a local sports competition or walk around inside of a shopping mall. When you see some kind of circumstances unfold, say the monologue, but point your energy at the circumstances in general, not directly at a specific person.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• What did you discover, now?

• What happened to your body/emotions/senses/imagination this time?

• What differences did you experience having the destination be the circumstances in front of you as opposed to the other person or yourself?

SOMETIMES YOU USE YOUR IMAGINATION TO TALK TO SOMEONE OR ABOUT SOMETHING NOT PRESENT.

Take a bit of time to be private and find some quiet inside of you. Allow your imagination to recall a loved one that has passed away. Recall something they did that offended, surprised or shocked you in some way. Don't worry about reaching any specific emotion. Just focus on sensorily creating the other person so they become real to you. Allow your imagination to flow and have an imaginary dialogue with them and say the lines below to the imagined person.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• What did you discover, in this 4th exploration?

• What happened to your body/emotions/senses/imagination this time?

• What differences did you experience having the destination be someone you imagined being there as opposed to the circumstances in front of you, or to an actual person in the room or inward to yourself?

SOMETIMES YOU TALK TO THE UNIVERSE/GOD/ENERGY/MOTHER NATURE.

Give yourself permission and the freedom to go big this time. Don't suppress anything. Focus your energy out to something bigger than you. Really send the message out to universe. Really talk to God. Really connect with the energy or vibration of the world. Connect with your spirituality. Go big on this one, just to experience one more variation of the piece.

What were you thinking? Why did you do that? How could this happen? It's just not fair. None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• What did you discover, in this 5th exploration?

• What happened to your body/emotions/senses/imagination this time?

• What differences did you experience having the destination be The Universe/God/Energy/Mother Nature as opposed to someone you imagined being there, or to the circumstances in front of you, or to an actual person in the room or inward to yourself?

NOW LET'S REALLY HAVE FUN!!!

Let's use all 5 destination changes, one for each line of the monologue.

Simply allow yourself to flow. Use your imagination and don't judge, suppress or analyze anything while you're saying the lines. Just explore for the sake of exploring.

Talk to yourself: What were you thinking?

Talk directly to the other person/people right in front of you: Why did you do that?

Talk to the circumstances unfolding before your eyes: How could this happen?

Talk to someone or about something not present: It's just not fair.

Talk to The Universe/God/Energy/Mother Nature: None of it is fair and I don't know what to do.

• Notice how your point of view shifted.

• Notice how you felt different emotions throughout.

• Notice how the meaning of what you were saying changed based upon the shifting of your focus to a new destination.

• Notice how you felt like this version was a complete, complex and multilayered monologue.

It's important to highlight that this concept of "Shifting Focus" has its origins in Stanislavski's "Circles of Attention" as well as variations of Michael Chekhov's "Focal Points".

This is a powerful craft tool that helps actors quickly, effortlessly and effectively communicate clear, impactful and meaningful messages with vastly different points of view.

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I hope this post has inspired you in some small way. I look forward to reading your comments.

Bye for now and Stay Safe My Fellow Travelers.
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