Hello Hedge School,
As the words enter your ear, you feel a surge. A rise in amplitude. Your head nods in response. Body leaning in. Rising in energy as the transmission continues to rise in energy, each phrase has its way with you. A fluid dance where the timing is just right. Just perfect.
You feel the resonance.
Feel the rise in vibration.
As a student of deep dialogue, I have really tuned into my own resonant frequency. Tuned into what drives my natural frequency to rise.
You see, all things resonate...in some way. We have a natural frequency that we oscillate at. A note that is deliciously ours. When that frequency is met, energy is added to your system.
This is called resonance.
Anytime you have have ever nodded your head in response to something someone is saying or had a physical reaction to a song or an art work, you are resonating.
Resonance is "a specific type of motion, characterized by synchronized oscillation between two states."
A swing is a great example of resonance in action. When we sit on the swing, there is no movement. When energy is applied via a push, we move. If one push was the only energy applied, we would eventually find our way back to stillness. However, when the force of a push is applied continuously, at the right time (aka when we are in the height of the backswing), more energy is added to the system. As more energy is added, the energy rises to the point that we don't need the push any more and the swing is in perpetual motion.
Dialogue is a place we can often find resonance. We begin on the swing, still but present. As the timing of the words reaches us at the right time and the right frequency, we find our energy rising. We feel our bodies needing to move. Head nods. Hairs standing on the back of the neck. Hand gestures. Excitement. Smiling.
The more energy added at the right time, the more energy added to the system.
This is a magical experience.
But the opposite is also available. Energy applied at the wrong time or wrong frequency leaves us waning in energy. Leaves us depleted.
Tuning into how resonance shows up in our bodies enables us to understand our natural frequency and how to charge our energy. It also gives us guideposts on what is energy depleting and how to design for better conversations, experiences, and presence.
Remember, you vibrate. And the more the vibrate, the more energy that is being applied to your system. This is why it is hard to stand still after an epic conversation or vision planning session. We have excess energy in our system. Ride the wave when you have it. Ride the resonance all the way to the top of your swing.
And then create ways to down regulate by dissipating your energy. This is where the magic of breath comes in. Always available. Always willing to rise up or down depending on what you need.
So tune in. Turn up your favourite song. Find the right frequency.
Let the energy build and as one my favourite song's from Rise Against goes, swing life away.
Till next week,
Steve
Swing life away to the magic of Resonance