How to Show Someone Your Brain Without an Autopsy

How would I even achieve this? Why would I want to show someone my brain? Have you gone mad? I know, these are probably weird questions, but they are ones to think about when trying to put your true feelings into words. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to have someone understand you without countless attempts at redirecting your true meaning, without endless arguments with yourself trying to please the misunderstanding party, or without coming off as condescending. It does sound pretty impossible right? I thought the same until I rewatched Ray, the 2004 film directed by Taylor Hackford and discovered that it very much is possible, and not only that, but it makes beautiful music when you have the right conductor and the perfect songstress.

If you have ever seen this cinematic masterpiece then you may remember this scene. In the scene Jamie Foxx and Curtis Armstrong are acting as Ray Charles and Ahmet Ertegun, and they're sitting around a piano trying to come on with the next big hit to save the decade. Ertegun isn't quite able to articulate the melody just yet. You can tell by the time he ran this idea by Charles that he had thought about it for quite a while. Can you imagine, Ertegun, a middle-aged Caucasian American, walking around his 1-bedroom bachelor pad, fresh out of his morning shower, dancing and singing to the funkiest beat he never heard, and he created it all on his own. Amazing right? I thought so too. 

When he finally brings the idea forward it sounds like a mess in theory. He has no notebook, no recording ready to play for his prospect. NOTHING. Just a hope and a dream. And a little trust in a magician. You can watch him describe the key for Charles, the tonality of his thought, even the speed. That was all it took. If you aren't familiar with the musician, which I'm sure you are, he is or was completely blind. So for him to cultivate some of the greatest hits of all time, with no eyesight, just goes to show that vision is not reliant on what you see, it's what you feel is right. See, in the scene, Charles was able to understand not only Ertegun's' vision but it seems almost if he heard it coming right from his ears, right? Only one bar was given, with a key of G, and a twist on the tune he was going for. What if everything was that easy for someone to understand? In theory it should be basic math if a blind man can hear a thought ,then a seeing man should be able to move mountains. 

Do you now see where I'm going with this? It is very possible to have someone understand you; when they want to. If you are feeling that your efforts to convey a clear message are going unnoticed then that means you, are speaking to someone who is dedicated to misunderstanding you. Which isn't your fault. This is precisely why I watch movies as up close and personal as I do, because there is always a hidden message. 

I remember dealing with an awful ex-boyfriend where it seemed like his heaven sent mission was to misunderstand me. I would find myself screaming constantly, blue in the face, racking my brain, trying to find a different way to say what I was trying to say. I felt like Ray Charles in the physical and Ahmet Ertegun in the hypothetical. I found myself looking for clarity that couldn't be found. I found myself reaching for someone that wasn't there, and also expecting that person to help me. But no one was there. Figuratively. However, I realized that this was only a thought in my head, one that probably was a discombobulated mess with no clear answer at the end. Which I'll tell you, are most of my thoughts, so who can blame him, right? Wrong! Remember I said, someone who doesn't understand you is looking for reasons not too. Call me a smart guy but something about common sense says that what I'm saying should be simple to grasp.

I always equate this to a woman learning about mechanics. Taboo right? Absolutely, if you are committed to misunderstanding any woman that wants to understand something greater than what is presented. Now that I think about it, you are actually part of the problem. Do you ever think of how long it took the mechanic in this scenario, to learn the service he's being paid for? The hours and dollars he put into school, the extra help he pursued outside of that? Now I want you to imagine him speaking to this woman, whose just brought her vehicle in for the 2nd time in a month. He's worked on it both times and earned an amazing commission. So how could one even fathom that he could pass up such an easy money target by offering information. Taboo right? 

Well that's one way to think about it, if you're close minded, and the ideal avatar of this article, but for the rest of us we can see 3 perspectives. Personally, I would consider the mechanic possibly saving himself from a woman who is dead set on getting this man out of business. Constantly taking her car to the same place all for a grand scheme or turning the problem on the mechanic. I would consider the woman's perspective of him being a good mechanic and that she's already purchased the lemon, so her options are limited. Possibly she's like me and doesn't like change so, seeing as this is the first mechanic I came to; I am now your customer, and I enjoy making personal connections so, win win. And lastly, I would consider the perspective surrounding the misunderstanding looming in the air. And each party trying not to step on each other's toes. The mechanic not wanting to appear scammy, by servicing the vehicle a little more than average and the woman not wanting to make the mechanic feel as if he couldn't fix the problem, shining light on some unknown insecurities. Now I hope I didn't lose you with all these empathetic points of view, however I feel more people should follow suit seeing as those empathy, understanding, and DISCERNMENT take you the farthest.

I use these tools in everyday life to understand everyone's POV and navigate accordingly. As previously stated, someone hell bent on misunderstanding you will take you straight to hell and back, losing your mind in the process. But how amazing would it be to bypass these types of people and go straight to the ones who are more willing. You don't deserve to be misunderstood, nor do you deserve to fight trying. It's hard to describe things sometimes when the thoughts in our brains are so raw and unfiltered, when emotions are running high, and maybe you aren't even that good at articulating them. But! Imagine meeting the Ray Charles of 2024. And I'm not only talking about romantically. Imagine everyone around you, even those through your phone screen could literally take those jumbled thoughts, and write them into a beautiful symphony. Imagine you could come to a miracle worker of sorts, with your thoughts on your sleeve, and your heart in your hand, and walk away with a clear roadmap to take control of right now. Sounds too good to be true? I promise it isn't. Here's why.

Finding a way to comfort your brain through the pain it may be experiencing might seem like a mighty hurdle to jump. With all hurdles in your life, you must approach them the same way, with patience and grace. These things take time and planning. Why stress yourself out trying to declutter your OWN mind at the mercy of someone else, when you've done enough of that on your own. It's a surefire way to bring on an early burnout, and no one needs that. Instead, seek out the people that want to see you, that want to hear you, that want to find out the meaning behind your meaning and nothing less. Once you've secured such a person, you my friend, have figured out how to show someone your brain without an autopsy.