Left Brain | Right Brain: Wisdom | Intuition

(Trying to get your head around the concept)

There is a lot of discussion these days regarding which parts of our brains are responsible for which jobs. I intentionally used the pleural because of the duality suggested by the title: The Left Brain controls rational thought and is the source of wisdom. The Right Brain controls emotion and is the source of Intuition. I’m getting a headache on both sides just thinking about it.

Without providing any proof that this concept is valid I would rather consider the implications: My left brain negotiates contracts, helps me balance my checkbook, and finds the best price online for a new guitar. My right brain provides the soundtrack to my life, wants to buy a new Ibanez Artcore Jazz Box because it is beautiful to look at, and makes me stop worrying about my checkbook.

Both sides coordinate to combine melody (from the right) and lyrics (from the left) to compose and perform a song. Both sides control the muscles on the opposite side, which means playing a musical instrument using the right hand forces the left brain to be musical as well. Empathy arises from the right brain, whereas talking and texting from the left. Only one side needs to be working to be awake. Both sides stimulate the other constantly, even when we sleep, and when we dream.

All of these concepts can get your head spinning.  Thinking about how complex we all are can help us to appreciate the natural world. This awareness informs Wisdom from the left side. The term “Mindfulness” refers to paying attention to all 5 senses, and perhaps derive the 6th sense – Intuition – from the right side. Mindfulness can help bring a balance between the two side of our natural selves and bring us into harmony with the universe we live in.