...it would sound a lot like Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor.
She has firsthand knowledge of the splendor, the peace, the bliss of the right brain state of mind.
You see, one terrible day, Dr. Taylor, a 37-year-old Harvard neuroscientist, had a debilitating stroke. Afterward, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Over the next six years, because of her understanding of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and an amazingly strong, loving and patient mother, Jill completely recovered. (Hooray for Jill's mother and all mothers who never give up!)
And now she has something very special to share.
In Jill's book My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, she beautifully outlines the insight she gained into the unique functions of the right and left halves of her brain.
From her web site (http://www.drjilltaylor.com):
"Having lost the categorizing, organizing, describing, judging and critically analyzing skills of her left brain, along with its language centers and thus ego center, Jill’s consciousness shifted away from normal reality. In the absence of her left brain’s neural circuitry, her consciousness shifted into present moment thinking whereby she experienced herself 'at one with the universe.'"
This "oneness" is the innocent child-like state that the right brain calls home. It is precious. It thrives on love. And it can remain a reality for all children growing up into adulthood as long as we continue to pay attention to how we treat them, how we speak to them, how we care and tend to their needs.
That "right brain state of awareness" is where true wisdom exists.
If you know me, you know that right brain learning is not all about speed reading and photographic memory--it is almost an after-thought once the right brain is wide open and able to express itself. But through left-brain cultural habits, we measure it, we push for it, and then we lose the prize.
But if you place love and kindness as your first priority, then all else will follow. And it will do more than just helping your child ace his (her) math exams. He (she) could change the world through love.
Jill teaches us through her own example how we might more readily exercise our own right hemispheric circuitry with the intention of helping all human beings become more humane.
She shares:
“I believe the more time we spend running our deep inner peace circuitry, then the more peace we will project into the world, and ultimately the more peace we will have on the planet.”
Albert Einstein once said, "I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be."
Jill certainly did.
We are so inspired by her courage and the gift she has been able to give us through her personal journey of healing.
Your right brain is speaking...are you listening?
To learn more about Dr. Jill and her personal journey, please visit:
(1) Dr. Jill's website: http://www.drjilltaylor.com
(2) Oprah's web site (Jill's 4-part interview will be aired through May this month!)
(3) Dr. Jill's incredible presentation at TED http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
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On a personal note, we would like to thank Dr. Jill for permission to use her photographs in this blog. Her encouraging words put wind in our sails!
