The Power of Sight: Engaging with Your Surroundings Using the Visual Modality

In this post, we dive more deeply into Denslow Brown’s Processing Modalities. If you need a refresher on this concept, take a look at my previous post,  Discover Your Unique Modalities and How They Shape Your Perception. In this post, we look at the modality that many of us rely on the most, our visual sense.

VISUAL: Seeing
The visual processing modality is experienced through the eyes and visual perception. I recently read An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong. This book tells us how the creatures around us sense the world through vibrations, smells, and electromagnetic fields. It’s an astonishing book and I highly recommend it! Yong tells us that, unlike many other animals, humans have evolved to be highly visual creatures. I imagine many of us would agree that our visual sense is one we greatly value.

I was a graphic designer for many years, and visual aesthetics and design have always been important to me. I have always treasured this strong visual sense, but in the last few years, I have noticed that my color perception is slightly shifting, and I don’t see colors as I used to. Both my strong visual sense and my changing color perception are examples of what Brown calls the Processing Modality Strength Continuum, which can range from weak to competent to gifted. My experience shows we can be weak in some areas of a modality and strong in other ways and this affects how we interact with the world.
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Brown explains that in addition to our modality preferences, we have varying strengths with each modality, ranging from weak to competent to gifted.

Our vision also affects how we approach tasks and interact with our surroundings. This is something I have clearly seen in my work as a professional organizer. One person functions well in a space filled with objects, while another needs everything out of sight. One person does not care (or even notice) that they have no artwork on their walls, while another actively curates their space like a museum. These are examples of what Brown calls the Processing Modality Sensitivity Continuum, which can range from Hyposensitive (oblivious) to competent to Hypersensitive (very aware).

We have varying sensitivities across different modalities ranging from hyposensitive (unaware) to tolerant to hypersensitive (very aware).

​Consider how your visual strengths and sensitivities impact your work environment. Does the space you work in support your productivity? What do you visually see in your work space (whether it’s an office, a coffee shop, or the kitchen table)? Is there visual distraction (the dishes in the sink) or inspiration (a vision board or expansive view)? How do you feel when you’re working in this space? What contributes to that feeling? Are there simple things you can do to help this space be a visually more supportive environment? Is it time to change things up and try working in another space? 

If you are someone who is highly visual, it’s valuable to spend some time exploring how you interact with your surroundings. Creating a visually supportive environment can increase your productivity and your general joy in life! Look for future posts where I dive into the other modalities, how your strength and sensitivities in each can show up, and how this can affect focus and productivity.

Learn about all nine Processing Modalities:
VISUAL     The Power of Sight: Engaging with Your Surroundings Using the Visual Modality
AUDITORY   The Art of Listening: How Sound and Silence Influence Our Productivity
KINESTHETIC    Build Focus with Movement: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
TACTILE   Feeling the Difference: How Touch Affects Your Space and Mood
TASTE & SMELL   Elevate Your Workspace: Using Taste & Smell for a More Inspiring Environment
VERBAL   Verbal Processing Modalities: How Language Shapes Our Experience
EMOTIONAL   How Emotions Influence our Bodies and our Ability to Stay Focused
COGNITIVE   Knowing Your Mind: Navigating the Cognitive Modality
INTUITIVE   Cultivating Intuitive Knowing: Learning to Tap into Your Inner Wisdom

​© 2013 Denslow Brown. From the book, The Processing Modalities Guide by Denslow Brown Hickory Guild Press, 2012 $25 www.OrganizerCoach.com

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