Left Brain, Meet Right Brain

 

My mind is a very busy place.  If you remember The Jetsons cartoons, I picture my brain resembling George’s commute to work in his little spaceship with all the other spaceships zipping in and out of the skyways as fast as they can go in a hundred different directions. I also relate to the movie “Inside Out” where all the feeling characters are trying to be in charge in Riley’s head.  That’s me on a regular basis. 

I’ve been trying to learn more about how my brain actually functions.  I recently read Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s book, “My Stroke of Insight”.  Dr. Taylor spoke in the very first TED talk that went viral.  She is a neuroanatomist who studied the brain to learn how to help her brother who has schizophrenia.  However, at age 37 she had a massive brain hemorrhage – a stroke.  The TED talk and the book describe how she felt and processed what she was experiencing during and after the stroke, and how her knowledge of how the brain works was key in her recovery.  I’m now reading her new book, “Whole Brain Living”.  It takes an in-depth look at how the hemispheres and thinking and emotion centers in each hemisphere function and how we can integrate them to make the best use of our brain.  Fascinating stuff!

The more I read about how our brains work, the more I realize I have control over what I do with what goes on in my brain.  I just read a devotional this morning by Craig Groeschel, pastor and teacher who founded Life Church which now has ten campuses across the U.S.  He wrote, “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.”  He points out that the Bible tells us the same thing.  (Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:1-2) When modern science and scripture agree, I want to know more.

I have found it very helpful to get out in nature and get quiet.  I force the traffic in my head to slow down and come to a standstill.  It’s almost like when you turn an etch-a-sketch over and erase all the drawings on the screen.  I have the perfect little spot on our property I like to call my “mini sanctuary”.  I share it with hummingbirds and quail, squirrels, wild turkeys, deer, and an occasional moose.  If I take some deep gulps of the clean, fresh air, close my eyes and listen, then the busyness in my head ceases to be so loud.  My heart rate drops, my body relaxes.  It feels as though I’m adding years back onto my life. It’s also much easier to hear what God might want to say to me. 

There’s something to this “take your thoughts captive” thing.  Allow that right hemisphere to take you to that “right here right now” blissful place that helps your thoughts be happy and positive, then camp there.   Allow Joy from “Inside Out” to be in charge of your thoughts today.  Here’s to a happy day!