If “language is the art of concealing thought”, body language is the art of revealing one’s intentions. If follows therefore, as a natural corollary that if the communication is to be effective and impressive as well as authentic, it should be honest and genuine in both speech and corresponding action. Where this is not so, communication is lop-sided. In case the communication is linguistic and body language is absent , its dull and lacking in spirit. If language is a song, body language imparts tune and music to it. It renders it melodious. And if the tune and music are original, genuine ,not copied it will carry a great impact and will be lasting.
THE WORLD IS A STAGE: Of life was said by Shakespeare that “…. It is a player who struts and frets his hour on the stage ….”. That is first what life is. It is a stage on which each one of us acts not one or two but multiple roles from morning till evening. The efficacy of each role will directly be determined by the quality of acting.
What is Acting:
Acting is to internalize a situation thoroughly and honestly. And then letting one’s words and actions luminously interpret what one feels true within. This is acting on the stage or for screen. There a situation is given to us and we get into the same through emotional imagination. Once this is achieved , the resulting role will be impressive. Oscar wild said of acting , “I like acting. It is more real than real”.
The melody queen of India, Lata Mangeshkar was given a song to sing. It is a fock song which is sung in Punjab of North India by the ladies when they see off the bride to her in-laws. Lata was made to listen to the song as sung in Punjab. She was to sing in the same tune. When she recorded the song the Music Director told her that her singing of the song did not bear the delicate intensity of pathos. Upon this, Lata requested for few minutes of isolation. When she returned and started the recording, every member of the orchestra along with the Director was in tears. When she was asked how it happened she said that she vividly imagined that she was bidding farewell to her daughter. This created the emotional charge for the beauty of the song.
In the real world, however, we do not have to imagine a situation but we are already there. WE HAVE TO BE INTO IT – BODY MIND AND SOUL.
That is what thinkers , saints, philosophers call “Live in the moment”.
LIVING IN THE MOMENT:
What is living in the moment? We are all living in the moment. True. We are. However mankind is a species which is blessed (Or may be condemned) to live two lives. One, physical like all other species. Like them, we eat, drink, sleep, get up and move. The second life given to mankind to live is the psychological one or mental life. The physical presence and involvement in a situation is not a guarantee that the mind too is there. In fact, often enough , it is not. And to quote Shakespeare, there is the rub. While we are in a class where the professor is speaking, we are physically there, but our mind moves away for an excursion. During this interval, we have not heard the professor. And our body language will give a clear signal of our inattentiveness. This is what happens more often than not. Living in the moment means to be in the moment mentally as we are physically. Where this harmony takes place, we have a better understanding and we convey ourselves well. This also guarantees a substantially peaceful life and a life free from strife. While on the subject, it would not be impertinent to say that when we are in a situation physically as well as mentally, completely and totally, to the exclusion of distractions, we are in a state of meditation.
How to ensure Mind-Body unity:
The key lies in self discipline. The mind is fickle. It is a tool which can be useful only under our discipline. And this can be achieved by practice. An indisciplined mind is something like a fire over which we have lost control. A disciplined mind may be compared with fire which is under our control.
There are two methods by which this unity can be had:
- When we are in a situation which requires our total attention and mind goes away for feasting, we should at once become aware of it and bring it back to where we are. The moment it begins to go for a picnic again, pull it back. It will cease wander after a couple of strolls.
- If the situation in which we are is not of very great significance, let the mind go. But whatever it thinks about at that time let it do. We should neither oppose it nor be the hosts of the idea. The mind will cease to think. If this is practiced often , the mind will get into our service whenever we need it.
The upshot is – whether we are conversing, appearing for interview, making a speech the words which we utter should express the feelings, emotions which are associated with words we speak. And we must know and feel what we are saying. That is where honesty comes into play for effect. An angry face can not allow anybody to believe that you are peaceful even if finest rhetoric is made use of.