Most education systems in the world encourage left-brain function over right – the scientist, lawyer and accountant in us.
In present society this holds financial benefit, but makes for dualistic and linear thinking apart from rational reasoning.
The left-brain hemisphere needs to see the process of understanding. It questions sensory input and output, counts time and reasons things out. The right brain hemisphere sees the big picture, the whole in its entirety without needing to dissect it. It doesn’t function logically or question sensory input.
In neglecting right brain attributes – the artist in us – the natural understanding that we are born with dies and with it that spark of genius.
Mozart said ‘Tunes walk into my head fully-fledged’ – in other words his music came directly from his creative or right brain hemisphere. He didn’t create systematically and progressively from left-brain function. The left brain’s function merely transcribes ‘ideas of genius’ rather than creating them.
Left brain function Right brain function
Logic Emotion
Numbers Creativity
Analysis Visualization
Writing Rhythm
Fact Intuition
Language Imagination
In the inspiring words of L. Frank Baum in theThe Lost Princess of Oz
Imagination has brought mankind through the dark ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity. Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they became realities. So I believe that dreams – daydreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain machinery whizzing – are likely to lead to the betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to invent, and therefore to foster, civilization.
Relaxing the mind through meditation, walking in nature, taking healing sessions, drinking relaxing herbal teas and using calming oils can all help to bring about left / right brain hemispheric balance.