Will Richardson

Speaker, consultant, writer, learner, parent

  • About
    • About Will
    • Contact Will
    • BIG Questions Institute
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Coaching
  • News
  • Books

Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight

March 17, 2008 By Will Richardson

Amazing.

Filed Under: On My Mind Tagged With: JillTaylor, TED

Comments

  1. Tina Steele says

    March 17, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    Will I caught the twitter yesterday on this video. WOW! The left-side of my brain loved her explanation of how our brain works. The right-side of my brain loved how her experience touched her spirit. I was deeply moved watching this video. Thanks for reposting!

  2. Robert Rowe says

    March 17, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    Thanks Will! I noticed the other day that most of my “leisure reading” has involved some sort of neuroscience and/or music.
    This lecture was perfect for my inner-infovore.

  3. Jeffrey Mordan says

    March 17, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Beautiful.

  4. Suzanne says

    March 17, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Will, I too was very moved by this video. However, my left brain kicked in and wanted to find or define the “how to” of stepping into my right brain. This is something that I have always wanted to do, but I have never been able to stop the chatter of my left brain. Thank you for sharing.

  5. Tim Goree says

    March 18, 2008 at 1:13 am

    My left brain says that was waaaay too melodramatic. My right brain says “groovy”.

  6. Sarah Goodyear says

    March 18, 2008 at 9:53 am

    I too found this through your tweet, and I thank you.

    For Suzanne, re: “how to”: I have recently been doing some contemplative prayer…essentially a type of meditation. I think that this is one way to “turn off” or quiet the left brain, inasmuch as that is possible without a traumatic brain event. It has very interesting effects in day-to-day life. I’m trying to do it more. It feels good.

    Here’s a link to a Christian take on the concept: http://www.centeringprayer.com/methodcp.htm

    Don’t be turned off by the Christian frills on this. You can find this approach in almost any spiritual tradition. I believe it fulfills a basic human longing to reach exactly the kind of awareness Bolte Taylor is talking about here. I also believe it is possible to practice such techniques outside of a religious tradition, and her talk provides an interesting context for those whose view of the world is strictly grounded in science.

    Very thought-provoking.

  7. Connie says

    March 19, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Thank you for the post. That was wonderful. I will share this with many people.

  8. wendy says

    March 24, 2008 at 9:16 am

    This video clip helps me see that both sides of the brain are necessary for survival in our world. I’ve been reading some of Eckhart Tolle’s stuff and was skeptical of his idea of “living in the now”. You have to think about the past and the future at some point. This video helps me put ideas I’ve been reading about together in a way that makes a lot more sense. Thank you so much for sharing!

  9. leigh says

    March 24, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Thanks for the post. I have a lot of left-brain chatter going on and a very left-brain career, so I decided to take an art class based on the book, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.” This might be of interest to some who want to experience a temporary shift to the right hemisphere. The first time I managed to shift to my right hemisphere during class, I finished drawing a picture and as I started shifting back to my left brain, I thought I’d been drawing for 15-20 minutes and worried about what I’d do with all the extra time since we were given an hour to draw. Turns out an hour actually had passed and I’d just lost concept of time. I also could hear voices in the hallway while I was drawing, but couldn’t make out what they were saying while drawing– something I’d find impossible to ignore in left-brain mode. (In fact, in left-brain mode I’d have been very irritated by the voices. Even someone’s cell phone ringing during class didn’t bother me– it just sounded like an interesting noise in the background.) I now crave drawing as a way of learning to tap into my right hemisphere and experience a delightful peace from the usual non-stop, left-brain chatter that goes on in my brain. Thanks again for the post. Very interesting.

  10. Linda says

    March 27, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Will
    How can I contact Jill? It is so very important that I do.
    It could change my entire life as well as many others.
    Please help me here, Will.
    Or better yet, have her contact me, you have my email address.
    I will not get into any specifics here, because this is not a joke or anything to be made fun of.

    Linda

  11. Dona says

    March 31, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    Hi,

    This was a very inspiring life experience for my Monday wake up. Kudoes Dr Jill!!!
    I have made a total and compete recovery from a diagnosis of Bipolar Manic Depression.Spirituality had an enormous impact, as did my steadfast desire to loose all man made medications.
    It is not a fact and I don’t have an bipolar thoughts,just human, humane thoughts,with which I plan to use in my effort to work with children who have been labeled with bipolar.
    15 years, was a tremendous price, as I lost my sons and all civil rights, but I learned this lesson very well.
    Thank you, Dr Jill, for your heroic survial and recovery is another inspiritation.
    You go Girl!!!

    Peace-Love-Oneness
    Dona

  12. LASLO says

    April 6, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    Hm. Nice stroke. I got the point and like the goal. What is the method? Should I also get one stroke? 😉

    Does brain produce consciousness? If not, what is really there? Is it possible, that this insight was more into reality, then into brain functions?

    I do think one can get liberated during life. This is normally something that needs a lots of diligence and practice of proper Buddhist meditation. And once it is reached it cannot be lost. Maybe Jill had done this in a previous life, just did not discover in the current, where body limited the experience.

    I wish constant and indestructible happiness to all!

    Laslo 🙂

  13. Nancy McConnell says

    April 23, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    I was wondering how I can find a transcript of this lecture. I would like to send it to a deaf friend of mine as I find it remarkable and I think she will as well.

Recent Posts

  • “Never”
  • My 2023 “Tech Cleanse” Has Begun
  • Five Themes for Educators in 2023
  • Schools in a Time of Chaos
  • Has This Crisis Really Changed Schools?

Search My Blog

Archived Posts

Copyright © 2023 Will Richardson · All Rights Reserved

Follow me on Twitter @willrich45