No matter what corner of the globe we live in, when we hear songs such as “No woman, No cry” by Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley, or the acclaimed song by U2 “Beautiful Day,” our brains seem to experience some kind of bliss, and we feel content.
This is also the case if we are at a concert with a group of strangers and everyone starts to sing along. We can feel a sense of camaraderie and unity, which is hard to describe — it’s something that would be more difficult to achieve by merely using language — or so it seems.
Recent research, has proven that language in “poetry format” is effective in activating regions of the brain, similar to the ones activated by music.
Furthermore imaging studies undertaken at the University of Exeter in England have revealed that people’s brains respond differently to poetry than to prose. This experiment has shown that when we read or write poetry, not only are our emotions elicited in a similar way as when we listen to music, additionally, we might be becoming more introspective.
Developing introspection is an art that, unfortunately, is not being fostered enough in today’s society, as the focus seems to be on what happens outside of us rather than inside. However, reflecting on who we are, and getting to know ourselves, is the first step in building good leadership habits.
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Links:
Huffington Post | University of Exeter (England) | Exeter Study
