Navigating through The Forest requires us to be present and attuned to our senses and bodies. If we're lost in our heads, thinking through stories of the past or the future, we stand to miss out on the subtle secrets The Forest has to offer, along with its myriad other possibilities and pitfalls.
Resonance Reviews are a somatic practice where you review the output of your mind, and use your felt sense of resonance or dissonance in your body to discern what's important. When we do Targeted Inquiry or a Manic Mind Dump, we're usually left with vast amounts of information, and tons of potential rabbit holes to fall down. But not all of those paths are worthwhile. When we tune in and listen to our bodies, they can tell us what's resonant and meaningful. They can also tell us what to avoid or steer away from.
Here's how to conduct a Resonance Review:
- Give it time: After you've completed your initial brainstorming or idea generation, set it aside for a few hours or even a day or more. This will give you some distance and perspective when you return to review your thoughts.
- Create a calm environment: When you're ready to review your work, find a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus on your body's sensations without distractions. I also like to start with a few deep breaths. The 4-7-8 breath pattern is especially good for calming the nervous system.
- Review your ideas: Read through what you wrote or captured, paying close attention to any physical or emotional sensations that arise in your body. Notice if your heart beats faster, your jaw clenches, your cheeks flush, or your chest tightens in response to certain ideas.
- Identify resonance: As you review, look for particular words or phrases that trigger an emotional response. Which ideas fill you with energy, curiosity, or excitement, and which ones evoke heaviness, dread, or discomfort? Both positive and negative forms of resonance are valuable data.
- Highlight and collect resonant ideas: Mark or underline the ideas that create the strongest reactions, and consider copying them into a separate document or notebook. These are the concepts you'll want to explore further in your creative and entrepreneurial journey.
- Expand and experiment: Use these resonant ideas as a starting point for further exploration. Freewrite about them, create content based on them, discuss them with friends or fans, and weave them into the fabric of your brand and business.