You have likely heard some variation of the proverb that to a hammer, everything is a nail.
The idea that if you have a tool that is good at one thing, you have to use it all the time.

The problem isn’t the hammer in this case.
It is that you never use or consider another tool.

But how about, if you get your hands on a tool that you don’t know what it is for.
There are no instructions on how or when to use it…

Then you start to experiment. You test and practice.

And today I want to give you an exercise with this new
tool, so that you can practice and see more of reality.

I have previously written about the ability to notice all the layers and
never settle for one answer or one perspective.

Here are just a few examples from my archive.

There is a strength and wisdom in seeing more.

The ability to slow down makes you notice paths that others might have missed or overlooked.
New discoveries, insights and solutions might reveal themselves
when you look at the world from a different point of view.

But this ability is rarely practiced… and the world is moving faster and
faster, making it harder to see the details.

These days, you write a prompt and get from point A to B, from 0 to 1, as fast as possible.
Ignore everything that happens in between.

But between 0 and 1, there is an infinity.
An infinity you will miss if you just rush past it.

So how can you practice to see more? To notice more?

Today I offer one answer that might surprise you.

Music.

I have used Jacob Collier as Music Motivation in these letters.

You don’t have to like his music.
You don’t have to understand musical theory. (I don’t.)

But I know a good communicator when I see one. And Jacob is a master.
With a smile and his hands he can guide an audience and
welcome everyone into another world.

A few months ago he played with an orchestra in San Francisco.
Even if none of us were there, this clip will make it feel as you were.

It is 20 minutes long (but it doesn’t feel like it… if that makes sense.)

In this warm and joyous creation of music there are countless lessons to be learned.

I could go into his stage presence and how he captures
the entire room, but that is not the focus for today.

Here I want you to focus on what he is creating in your mind.

Notice how he reveals one layer of music at a time.
Each instrument adding a bit of magic.

Yes, he is teaching the wonderfully talented musicians what and when to play.
But he is also building the audience's understanding of what they are hearing.

Jacob is building a world, a framework, one layer at a time.
And when everyone is playing at the same time… we hear it!

All of it!

If you watch the video a second time you will notice that you now
have a form of awareness of all the layers in your mind.
You remember the final song and can hear what hasn’t been played yet.

That is easy to explain when listening to the same song again.
Of course you remember what comes next.

Here comes the funny part though.

Listen to any other song played by an orchestra and
you will find that you’ll notice more of it.

The framework Jacob has provided, stays with you.

You are suddenly aware of the instrument and the harmonies.
You hear who is playing, and who is silent.

Like a LEGO piece that can be used to build many different things, this
framework enables you to build a deeper understanding to hold all the layers.

And when you can hold all the parts, the whole becomes much more magical.

With these words and Jacob’s musical framework, I want to encourage you to
continue to practice to see, hear, feel and hold more of reality.

Want to learn more about me,
send me a DM on LinkedIn

Until next time!
Daniel - The Talking Bridge

Ps. Music Motivation: