Do I use the left or right side of my brain?

Our brain, like the rest of our anatomy, is made up of two halves - a left and a right brain.

Essentially there is a strong fold that goes from the front to back of our brain dividing it into two distinct hemispheres. They are connected to each other by a thick cable of nerves at the base of each brain, called the corpus collosum.

Scientific experimentation has discovered that these two different sides of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of either of these styles of thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes.

So how can you tell which side of the brain you predominately think with?

Look at the figure above.

Now, which way is the woman above turning? Is she turning clockwise or ant-clockwise?

If you answered anti-clockwise, you use the left side of your brain, and if you answered clockwise you use the right side of your brain.

Those who use the left side of their brains account for an estimated 95% of the worlds population, and those who use the right side of their brains account for around only 5% of the population.

The differences between left brain and right brain thinking is as follows:

If you see the picture anti-clockwise, you are dominated by your:

Left Brain (analytic)

• Verbal
• Logical
• Sequential
• Rational
• Analytical
• Objective
• Looks at parts
• Detail oriented
• Facts rule
• Words and language
• Present and past
• Math and science
• Can comprehend
• Knowing
• Acknowledges
• Order/pattern perception
• Knows object name
• Reality based
• Forms strategies
• Practical
• Safe
• Responds to word meaning
• Processes information linearly
• Responds to logic
• Recalls people’s names
• Speaks with few gestures
• Punctual
• Prefers formal study design and bright lights whilst studying

If you see the picture clockwise, you are dominated by your:

Right Brain (global)

• Visual
• Random
• Intuitive
• Holistic
• Synthesizing
• Subjective
• Looks at wholes
• Uses feeling
• “Big picture” oriented
• Imagination rules
• Symbols and images
• Present and future
• Philosophy & religion
• Can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
• Believes
• Appreciates
• Spatial perception
• Knows object function
• Fantasy based
• Presents possibilities
• Impetuous
• Risk taking
• Responds to tone of voice
• Processes information in varied order
• Responds to emotion
• Recalls people’s faces
• Gestures when speaking
• Less punctual
• Prefers sound/music background and frequent mobility whilst studying

A Scientific Perspective

Roger Wolcott Sperry (August 20, 1913 - April 17, 1994) was a neuropsychologist, neurobiologist and Nobel laureate who, together with David Hunter Hubel and Torsten Nils Wiesel, won the 1981 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work with split-brain research.

One of Roger Sperry’s research experiments was from a patient suffering from uncontrollable seizures who had an area of his brain removed by surgery, the corpus collosum, in an attempt to control his illness.

Following his surgery, Sperry’s patient appeared to be completely normal, however this was not the case. A series of tests were conducted where each “half” of the patient was isolated from the other. Different visual and tactile information could then be presented to the patient’s left or right side, without the other side knowing, and the results were astounding.

With their communications link severed (the corpus collosum), each side of the patient’s brain was functioning independently. Although this did not prevent his ability to walk, talk and eat, some unexpected findings were encountered in some of the higher brain functions when each side was examined independently of the other.

The right hand and eye could name an object, such as a pencil, but the patient could not explain what it was used for. When shown to the left hand and eye, the patient could explain and demonstrate its use, but could not name it. Further studies showed that various functions of thought are physically separated and localised to a specific area on either the left or right side of the human brain.

“The main theme to emerge is that there appears to be two modes of thinking, verbal and nonverbal, represented rather separately in left and right hemispheres respectively and that our education system, as well as science in general, tends to neglect the non-verbal form of intellect. What it comes down to is that modern society discriminates against the right hemisphere.”
-Roger Sperry (1973)

Upon completing their research, it was becoming clear to researchers that each side of the brain had a characteristic way that it interpreted how it viewed the world and reacted to it.

How can I learn new information quicker?

Visual, audio and kinesthetic are ways to determine varying types of learners.

Depending on whether you are a visual, audio or kinesthetic learner you will require different learning techniques and conditions to those of your peers. Many of us will have a personal preference for a particular learning modality, although we can also possibly be a combination of all three.

Therefore, once we have determined what type of learner you are we can then establish the quickest and easiest way for you to process new information.

An excellent way to determine which type of learner you are is to think of these below scenarios and how you would act in each:

Scenario 1. When you purchase a new car, do you…

(a) want to know all of the details, facts and specifics of the car;

(b) want to see the car inside and out; or

(c) want to sit inside the car to see how it feels.

Scenario 2. When you are giving street directions to someone, do you say…

(a) “go 3kms down the street, then turn left, go 500m then you will come to a roundabout, continue along for 4kms then turn right on to ____ Road”;

(b) “go down the street and turn left when you see the police station, then continue along until you see the roundabout, go straight over that and turn right just after you see the chemist shop”; or

(c) “I am going that way right now, why don’t you follow me?”.

If you answered (a) you are an audio learner, if you answered (b) you are a visual learner, and if you answered (c) you are a kinesthetic learner.

Please refer to your learning modality below for specific learning strategies and techniques.

Audio Learners

• Very good at remembering what they hear.
• Can find it hard to remember things that they have read.
• May find it difficult to read facial and body language.

Audio learners generally like maths and science (left brain) and process new information by what they hear and what they think. They are data orientated, completely reliant on facts and figures to make their own decisions, like to get straight to the point during conversations and are able to concentrate on tedious work for several hours.

Audios learners use hearing and thinking terms such as, “yes, I hear what you are saying”, “sounds good to me” and “I hear you loud and clear”. They are people of few words who can find it difficult to read facial and body language. They will prefer to know the facts in order to make their own determination of the outcome.

Audio learners can make very loving, devoted partners however they rarely show their emotions to anyone and do not like to be touched without their approval first. When an Audio learner makes a direct statement, it is valid until they tell you differently i.e. if an (audio) man tells his partner he is in love with her, it is true until he tells her otherwise.

Strategies for Audio Learners

• Read aloud.
• Before reading, skim the information to first determine to yourself what you think the reading will be about.
• Recite aloud what you are trying to learn so that you can hear yourself.
• Record meetings or yourself reading your notes (just the important points).
• Create cards with key points on them and read them aloud.
• Study with a partner so you can talk about main concepts and key points.

Strategies to teach Audio Learners

• Provide clear audio information.
• Make the audio part of lectures and meetings as captivating as possible.

Visual Learners

• Remember written directions well.
• Need to see material to learn it.
• May have difficulties focusing on lectures if there are few visuals.

Audio learners generally like philosophy, art and religion (right brain) and process new information by what they see. In order for audio learners to understand concepts, they must know every minute detail in order to visualise the image in their minds first.

Visual learners use seeing terms such as, “I see what you mean”, “looks good to me” and “I can imagine exactly that”. If they are listening to music, they can actually visualise images of the music in their minds. Visuals can have difficulties focusing on a particular subject if there are few visuals, however they can remember written directions well.

Visuals need to see it to believe it i.e., a (visual) woman will need to see that her partner loves her by his actions on a constant basis.

Strategies for Visual Learners

• Use colour coding.
• Work in a relatively quiet location.
• Use visual aids when taking notes (e.g. diagrams).
• Watch video graphics or slide show presentations (where possible).
• Look at a person to help you focus on what they are saying.
• Visualise facts and word spellings when trying to memorize.
• Take clear and detailed notes during meetings.
• Review and write out key points.
• Skim a reading prior to starting so that you have a good general understanding before you begin.

Strategies to teach Visual Learners

• Provide clear outlines with headings.
• Present information in a visual format (where possible).

Kinesthetic Learners

• Need hands-on/active learning (touch and movement).
• Don’t require instructions to assemble something.
• Can have difficulties if they have to remain seated for a long period of time.

Kinesthetic learners generally like athletics and drama and process new information by how something makes them feel. They love to be right in the centre of things and need hands-on activities involving touch and movement.

Visual learners use feeling terms such as, “I feel what you are saying”, “feels great to me” and “I feel (emotion)”. Kinesthetic learners like small intimate groups, quickly pick up on other peoples feelings and listen to emotional music that evokes some sort of emotion and ‘moves’ them.

Strategies for Kinesthetic Learners

• Read aloud.
• Use colour coding.
• Try moving while you read.
• Take advantage of projects that allow you to do hands-on work.
• Use cards that you can move on a table or other surface.
• Take notes for meetings using diagrams (where possible).
• Write information out clearly (on paper, board, etc.) whilst studying.
• Listen to information on a CD whilst you move or drive your car (or recite to yourself).
• Take frequent breaks when working and move/stretch.
• Try studying in a position other than a chair in front of a desk.
• Find a way in which fidgeting allows you to focus on learning.

Strategies to teach Kinesthetic Learners

• Use demonstrations (where possible).
• Provide opportunities for hands-on/active learning.

How does an entrepreneurial mind work?

Over all my years of growing up, going to college and being in business I have always been fascinated by the human brain and how millionaires think in comparison to the everyday person. What makes them different?

If we were to take two newborn babies who both come from an average families financial status (meaning their parents are ‘blue-collar’ workers and not already established financially, i.e. not born in to wealth), and hypothetically speaking they both grow up with the same values and ethics, however one becomes a millionaire and the other doesn’t. What sets him apart from the other person? It could therefor not be from his background, but from himself. His own way of thinking. We can all determine our own financial destiny by changing the way we think and view our world.

Take the below scenario as an example:

A man walked into a bank in New York City one day and asked for the loan officer.

He told the loan officer that he was going to Philippines on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan.

The man then proceeded to hand over the keys to his new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer promptly agreed to accept the car as collateral for the loan.

The bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the man once he had left for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s underground garage and parked it there.

Two weeks later, the man returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest, which came to a total of $15.41.

The loan officer, curious, turned to the man and said, “We are all a little puzzled. Whilst you were away, we checked you out and discovered that you are a multi-millionaire. What confuses us is, why would you bother to borrow the $5,000 in the first place?”.

The millionaire then replied: “Why, where else in New York City can I park my car for just $15.41 and expect it to be there on my return?”

Now some would argue that this millionaire knew more about money management than others, however I would beg to differ.

I think that millionaires have the capacity to think outside the box, in unconventional ways that other people cannot.

What are some thought provoking discussion topics?

Here are some thought provoking conversational topics that I have thought of that you may like to consider carefully in your own time or with other people in order to improve and expand your thinking:

Q. At what point are we good enough? When are we self improved enough to accept ourselves?

Q. Is it your similarities or your differences in your relationship that attract you to each other?

Q. How has your understanding of god/religion changed throughout your life?

Q. If you had the choice, which other culture would you choose to be born into?

Q. What do you think is the most difficult aspect about being a child? And as an adult?

Q. What do you think would happen if there was no money in this world?

Q. Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

Q. What impact/message do you want to leave on this world when you die?

Q. If you could have any view from your house, what would it be?

Q. If I was a woman/man (opposite sex), what would your life be like?

Q. If you could be doing anything you wanted in the world right now, what would you be doing and why?

Q. How much money do you think you need in the bank to feel secure?

Q. How do you think other people view you?

Q. What is your greatest fear?

Q. What historical sporting event would you most like to witness?

Q. Can you put a price on creativity?

Q. Is ignorance bliss?

Q. What do you consider to be the perfect age?

Q. If you were to write a book, what would you write about and what would your book be called?

Q. If you were to direct your own movie, what would your movie be about?

Q. Which famous athlete would you most like to meet and why?

Q. Who is the most evolved person that you know?

Q. When is it okay to lie?

Q. Which do you think is more important, sexual quality or quantity?

Q. Have you ever communicated with someone spiritually?

Q. If you could do one thing to make this world a better place today, what would it be?

Q. What do you think heaven would be like?

Q. What possession of your partner’s would you most like to disown?

What does compatibility mean, and am I compatible with my partner?

The other day I got to thinking to myself what the meaning of compatibility is, and how do I know if my partner and I are compatible? This posed a very important question in my mind and have since decided to research in to the different areas of compatibility and their individual meanings.

There are 12 major areas of compatibility; physical, intellectual, emotional, financial, autonomy, spiritual, performance, social, communication, sexual, family and general compatibility.

(1) Physical compatibility
The importance you place on attractiveness.

(2) Intellectual compatibility
Educational achievement and interest in culturally enriching activities, general interests.

(3) Emotional compatibility
The importance you place on feelings.

(4) Financial compatibility
How you handle your finances.

(5) Autonomy compatibility
The amount of freedom you both require for personal growth.

(6) Spiritual compatibility
Your belief in a higher being and/or god.

(7) Performance compatibility
The importance of commitment to a career, project or job.

(8) Social compatibility
The amount of time spent alone or with others.

(9) Communication compatibility
Ability to communicate with each other openly and honestly.

(10) Sexual compatibility
Your level of desire and sexual needs.

(11) Family compatibility
Your attitude towards family members and desire to have children.

(12) General compatibility
Your ability to be capable of existing with each other in a harmonious, pleasant and agreeable manner.

Overall, compatibility means that you are both willing to compromise and communicate with one another in an open, kind, honest and affable manner in order to see your relationship working.

Remember that “difficult” relationships can sometimes prove to be the most rewarding and passionate whereas the ‘easier’ relationships can become dull and tediously repetitive. Even though you may either relish the sparks of a “difficult” relationship or prefer a quieter one, the most important factor is that you love the person and they love you.

The key to happiness

After thinking about this for several months, I have come to conclusion that this statement, written by an ancient Tibetan master 18 centuries ago, is the key to all happiness in life.

“Believe the statement ‘goodness leads to good things’. Recognise the existence of this deep truth for clarity of thought and complex intellect. The advanced ability to think and reason out a problem infinetely faster and more clearly than most can is not a result of genetics or training but rather of another perception triggered by a mental imprint planted at a previous time. The strongest way to plant this very imprint is to understand how imprints work to create the world around us, and then acting on this understanding by following the path of personal integrity.”

…and I will leave this statement with this - “You fix your world by fixing yourself”.

String of precious jewels

This magnificent poem was written by Nacarjuna, 18 centuries ago.

I’ll tell you briefly the fine qualities of those
on the path of compassion:
giving and ethics, patience and effort,
concentration, wisdom, compassion and such.

Giving is giving away what you have,
and ethics is doing good to others.
Patience is giving up feelings of anger,
and effort is joy that increases all good.

Concentration’s one-pointed, free of bad thoughts,
and wisdom decides what truth really is.
Compassion’s a kind of high intelligence,
mixed deep with a love for all living kind.

Giving brings wealth, a good world comes from ethics,
patience brings beauty, eminence comes from effort.
Concentration brings peace, and from wisdom comes freedom,
compassion achieves everything we all wish for.

A person who takes all seven of these and
perfects them together will reach that place
of inconceivable knowledge, no less than
the world’s protector.