What’s on Stacy’s Mind
What’s on Stacy’s Mind
EnVision New Ways to Solve Old Problems
A 2008 Survey found that people who were happy in general often participated in Creative Activities.
You can Create CHANGE in your
life through creative activity.
That is a big and bold statement, but yes, it’s true. People can find themselves in a new position when they are developing the right side of the brain. Suddenly finding themselves bringing a different skill set to the table. We live in such a busy, over scheduled world, our left brain is constantly the voice we hear in our head the most. Because of our daily business, we are not accessing the right brain.
When you give the right brain a task, it responds. Each time you do a creative task, the right brain gets stronger and stronger and is able to contribute when you have a problem to solve or an idea to fulfill. Your right brain is better able to help create change and envision new ways to solve old problems.
One of the most famous examples of a balanced left-right brainer was Leonardo da Vinci. He demonstrated the power that brain balance can give us in our lives- the creativity and innovation, the giant leaps forward we could take as a society.
Da Vinci was exceptionally multi-talented and worked as an artist (right-brained: RB), scientist (LB), engineer (LB), mathematician (LB), inventor (RB), anatomist (LB), painter (RB), sculptor (RB), architect (RB), botanist (LB), musician (RB) and writer (RB).
The work of da Vinci formed an integral part of the European Renaissance (14th-17th Century AD)- the cultural movement widely regarded as a time of great advancement in the fields of politics, science, art and music, amongst others.
Just imagine how far the human race could advance with a better grasp of brain balance!
With such an inspirational role model as Leonardo da Vinci, maybe we can overcome an attitude of right-brained activities being feminine, airy-fairy, less productive, unrealistic etc; that it is actually important for humans to maintain brain balance for health and successful human evolution.
Right-brained activities can bring added meaning to our lives and revitalize us after a left-brained day in the office. Think drawing, painting, singing, dancing, yoga, athletics, playing a board game, swimming, sports, playing with kids/dog, writing, designing, crafting, cooking etc.
Psychiatrist Ian McGilchrist, author of The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, argues that in the Western World there has been a far greater reliance on our left brains, the result of which has propelled our world into imbalance. McGilchrist argues that our right brain responds to negative feedback whereas the left brain gets increasingly locked into its own, sometimes narrow point of view, limiting itself to doing things the way things have been done before. He says the result is that the Western world has become increasingly mechanistic and rule-and-procedure bound. McGilchrist says that bureaucracy, the curse of modern society, thrives and grows in a world dominated by our left brain, with its materialistic perspective of a world to be exploited, all the while our right brain yearns for a naturalistic, integrated experience.
There is a lot of evidence to illustrate how we've lost that experiential love for life and replaced it with what? Work!
McGilchrist argues that the left-brain helps us use our world, to achieve our ends, often at the expense of human happiness and our environment The left-brain is also expert at denying anything is wrong and or having made wrong decisions.
Given the world we know today with its financial, ecological and social problems, surely this must be clue to our over reliance on left brain thinking. Isn't it time to allow the right brain to give us the opportunity to live in balance?
I think it is incredibly important that we rediscover our right brains. Children are so naturally joyous and are fantastic role models for adults! Do you see them playing politicians and financial advisors? They love singing, dancing, playing football, running around outside, playing imaginary games together, drama, painting, making sand castles, digging in the garden, getting muddy and messy, laughing, making tents, dressing up, and so on. They go with what makes their heart sing! The right brain is the way to go in order for us to rediscover joy!
So Go to your Studio and make Something!
Love,
Stacy
Sunday, August 12, 2012