‘Whole Brain Living’ by Jill Bolte Taylor

I recently read a book that I’m recommending to everyone.   It helps us understand ourselves and others and the characters we operate.   It’s the best thing out there on the mind and brain imo and it’s an easy read. It’s also a fantastic way to understand one’s Awakening.

  It’s called:
Whole Brain Living   by Jill Bolte Taylor   

Jill was a Harvard Neurologist who had a profound stroke and her left brain hemisphere essentially shut down. This popped her into profound spiritual states of oneness with the universe yet without the language to function in the real world. It took her 8 years to heal and recreate a more functional left brain.   

She uncovered that our brains operate our experience through 4 different characters.

  Character 1; Left Brain Thinking Center; Our personality ego, Doer, Organiser, Judge etc.

  Character 2; Left Brain Emotional Center; Our inner child, Protector, Past and Future focused, Fear and Anger based etc  .

Character 3; Right Brain Emotional Center; Our Present Joyous self, Creative and Adrenaline junky etc.

  Character 4; Right Brain Thinking Center; Our Higher self, God connected Peaceful and Loving etc  .

The goal is to create a ‘Whole Brain’ functional system and not become too dominated by our left brain characters which in general humanity has become.   

Jill is in close contact and an influence on the work of Dr Iain McGilchrist and his Two Hemisphere’s. Which I covered here;
https://oliverwasser.com/2024/01/19/the-two-hemispheres-of-the-brain/

For many whom have a spontaneous ‘spiritual’ awakening it is clear to me that a change occurs in the brain and that we start experiencing reality in a new way, from our new characters (Character 4 and 3 predominantly).

For some their character 1 and 2 shut down or change immensely. Others have a more ‘Whole Brain’ awakening where more balance is brought to the lived experience.

If we have been living as our Doer (1) and or our Victim (2) then the change to (3) present connected and (4) God/Universe connected is understandably revolutuionary.

Jills Modality first brings us more awareness of the parts and roles we experience and play and that others around us play. It can help us with our interections and relationships.

As well she promotes ‘Brain Huddle’s’ whereby we check in with our four parts and make decisions throughout our day with a more Whole Brain consensus.

Many like me chose to ignore and abandon parts of ourselves after awakening to remain in that Universal Peace and god self (4). This has and did cause some problems. However the reality of life and relationship is that we need all our parts in as healthy a way as possible.

Whole Brain Living is essential reading. Enjoy.

Here are some Youtube clips on this subject;

Jill’s Story;