Left Brain Right Brain
Left Brain Right Brain
That discussion has been going on for decades. Which one are you? Left brain or right brain. Most of us know already. I’m left brained. I have an analytical, engineer brain. How about you? Which one do you have? And what does that mean? Are you stuck with the brain you were born with?
When I got to my twenties, I looked around at my friends. It seemed like all the right brained ones were having more fun. My roommate in college was a graphic design artist. One day during midterms, we were talking about our future. I had the next 5 years planned out. She was going to spend a year in Europe before she settled into her ‘adult’ career.
I envied her. But I didn’t understand how she could do it. Had I gone to Europe, I would have been a basket case. I would have been convinced that my perfect job was now being given to someone else. Now I’m not saying that all right brained people are successful. What I’m saying is they go about success in a different way.
Ninety percent of Fortune 500 companies hired a ‘Creativity Expert’ last year. Most left brained people I know wish they were more right brained. More creative. But how do you get there? When you think linearly, how do you start thinking randomly.
Surprisingly, creativity can be learned. The first step I took to learn how to be more creative was to take a class on the book, The Artist’s Way. In no way did I consider myself an artist at this time. I did like to garden and sew, but I didn’t consider myself an artist.
This book opened me up to new possibilities and new ways of being. It’s almost as if it opened the door between my left brain and my right brain. It gave me an opportunity to look at things from a different angle. And I never looked back.
I look at my pursuit of developing right brained skills as striving for balance. I feel more whole by looking at the world through both brains. How have you developed the non-dominant side of your brain. Are you left brain, right brain or balanced. I believe I’m much more balance, but still have a lot to learn.
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{ 71 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: makegirlfriends
May 8, 2011 at 11:35 am
My Friend Debbie – another great post from you!
I am so right brained it’s no even funny – I have so many random things that happen in my life that I often say – “I can’t make this S_ _ _ up!
Random acts of possibilities is the way I like to state it – now when it comes to work, I do operate from my right brain and am sensible but when it comes to living it’s all right brain….
Thanks for this most interesting post,
In gratitude,
Nancy
Nancy Shields recently posted..HOW TO MAKE YOUR PARTNER A BETTER LOVER
Hi Nancy,
It’s strikes me as funny that I consider myself born left-brained, and yet I’ve gathered around people that are right-brained. You guys are rubbing off on me. Thank you!
One Love,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
I really resonate with post, as you know, because of my recent posts ‘Marketing for Daydreamers.’ I am totally right brained and find it interesting that left brained people want to be more right brained. I also find it baffling that somebody would need to take a class on the Artist’s Way. Amazing! That book was so second nature to me I actually found it a little dry. I think that most right brained/creative thinkers are forced to live and conform in a logical/left brained world. It almost seems to me that left brained people are the ones in control because they know how to work within systems and how to create plans, thus the rest of the world has to conform to that. We can only conform to a certain extent. Mainly we need to just be ourselves. The grass always looks greener on the other side. Left brained or right brained we all need each other. Hey, how do I sign up to be one of those creativity experts? LOL!
Nicole Rushin recently posted..Where the Sand Meets the Sea
Hi Nicole,
You already are a Creativity Expert! Being extremely left-brained, I always felt out of balance. I thought I never did anything creative and felt I wasn’t truly expressing myself. It wasn’t until I embraced my creative side did I start to feel whole. I agree the world is set up to favor the left-brained, but I think we are seeing the shift and that the future will value the brilliance that right-brained people bring to the table.
I read that accounting firms and law firms are trolling art schools for new hires. Amazing!
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: NSDForg
May 9, 2011 at 2:35 am
Hello Debbie,
Honored to be the first to comment on this post. This is a subject I’ve thought of many times. I believe I am right brained. I tend to be very creative and often let my emotions lead. However I am learning though many recent connections to brilliant minds that I can become balance. My goal has always been balance in every area of my life. Good to read someone write that a balanced brain is possible. – Terrific Tonya, National Seizure Disorders Foundation
Tonya Heathco recently posted..Paws 4 Elijah
Hi Terrific,
Balance is possible. And it definitely brings more peace and happiness. I am so grateful to have so many right-brained friends. You all are amazing teachers. Thank you.
One Love,
Dazzling
Twitter: Yourinda
May 9, 2011 at 4:26 am
Hi Debbie,
good to hear you feel more in balance.
Art is a great way to tap into things.
In my research on Inner Child work I learned that
when we write with our non dominant hand we tap into the right brain.
It also taps into the feelings, which are important for healing.
Thank you so much for your article!
Love and Joy
Yorinda recently posted..How to Install Love
Twitter: makegirlfriends
May 9, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Love the way you think – we both rub off each other….
Thank you!
Nancy
Nancy Shields recently posted..HOW TO MAKE YOUR PARTNER A BETTER LOVER
We are all creative we just have never been taught that we are. Books like “The Artist’s Way” are excellent to stimulate thinking in different ways – gaining new perspectives. Each time you do you open up new neuro pathways. Meditation can help you as well. Some of Thomas Edison’s best ideas came from meditation. Wonderful to read about your creative journey! We have that i common. Love the message from the universe.
Lesly Federici recently posted..The Calm RN
Hi Lesly,
I know, I couldn’t believe it. Growing up, I didn’t have any aptitude for art, so I labeled myself “Uncreative.” As I became an adult, I turned to creative activities as a stress reducer. But my Inner Critic really held me back. I did the Artist’s Way with a group of women and it was a really powerful experience. We were all trying to claim our creativity. It moved me so far down the path that I now consider myself an artist. What a wonderful journey of discovery. It’s nice to be on the path with other beautifully creative women.
One Love,
Debbie
I have this feeling my brain is just scrambled – I love spreadsheets and all things analytical. At the same time my favorite kind of travel is going to new places with no preconcieved notions or schedule, just exploring and meeting new people. I’m an artist and a storyteller, yet I am always looking to find the logic and “why” behind the things that people do. Maybe mom dropped me on my head when I was a kid?!
Marquita Herald recently posted..Master Delegation- Let Go and Trust Other People
Hi Marquita,
It’s wonderful you are able to connect with both sides of your brain. I couldn’t do it when I was younger. But now I’m enjoying a more balanced look at life and I love it.
One Love,
Debbie
Hey Debbie – There is an old says “people want what they don’t have”. I think we all at one point in time, before we realize we are perfect the way we are, want to change who we are. The key, I’ve found, is to discover your traits and decide which ones will take you in the direction you want to go and keep those. Then create habits to help you with the ones you want to change.
Based on your blog, I do believe you are finding your balance. Looking forward to learning more from you. – Debi
Hi Debi,
Balance is definitely the key. I love my left brained ways, but always felt I was missing that creative outlet. Once I discovered it (and found that we all have it) my life became so much richer. I am able to express my inborn creativity without judging it. How do you like to express your creative side?
One Love,
Debbie
I do not believe that there are creative people and non-creative people. As humans we all have the ability to create amazing things. The only thing that gets in the way is our fear of our own power.
Hi Andy,
It took me 25 years to figure that out. I was definitely ‘afraid’ that my creativity wasn’t ‘good enough.’ Who knew that I would be able to let that go and watch my creativity soar! What do you do as a creative outlet?
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: mYasserKhan
May 13, 2011 at 8:27 am
Yes Debbie,
Creativity can be learnt.
It did take me a while to balance my logical part of the brain and my creative half, as I know without doubt I happen to have both. Balancing them was the challenge.
After a time of personal development and coaching under mentors, the process became totally natural and it is possible to switch back and forth between the two states!
Yasser
I so agree Yasser! We are all blessed with both parts, but balancing them can be a challenge. My life experience taught me that I was not creative. But the truth was that I couldn’t see it. Personal development definitely ‘opened my eyes’ and I now switch back an forth fairly easily as well. I’m glad you have found balance as well.
One Love,
Debbie
I’m 100% left brain
I have a lot of work to do to develop my right brain
jason@golf tips recently posted..My personal tips for getting rid of a golf slice
Hi Jason,
I had a lot of work to develop my right brain as well. I hope that didn’t contribute to my slicing the golf ball. (tee hee) I need work on that as well.
One Love,
Debbie
The brain certainly is a fascinating part of us. It is still very much unexplored its not like most body parts one wrong move from a Dr/surgeon etc and there is no telling what can happen.
What I find interesting about the brain is that anyone who plays an musical instrument exercises a part of the brain that most others wouldn’t and also I heard sometime ago we only use about half our brain and scientists and researchers don’t really knows why. Just imagine if we all used 100% of our brain imagine the possibilities.
Hi CJ,
I’m a big fan of playing musical instruments for children. They have discovered that those that do, do better in math. And they have found that adults that learn a new musical instrument have lower occurrences of dementia. It’s all good. I love shows about the brain on the Discovery channel.
One Love,
Debbie
Hmm I’m very right brained. Maybe I shouldd read a book “The Business Man’s brain.”
When I was younger, I was left brained and analytical, but as I grew up, I think the creative side took over!
Great post by the way,
Jason
Jason recently posted..Build Your Self Esteem
Hi Jason,
Me too! I love the creative side. It’s so much fun!
One Love,
Debbie
Hi Debbie ~ I am reminded of the old adage that the grass is always greener on the other side. I think it’s safe for me to assume that I am a right brained individual as I love to travel and experience all sorts of new and different things.
I was always impressed with people that had their lives mapped out and knew exactly how and where it was that they wanted to go in their lives because for a very long time I had no idea. The prospect of traveling in Europe (had I had that opportunity) before moving on to a career or graduate school would have been fabulous.
And while I know myself to be primarily right brained I think over time and some necessity I have learned to use more of my left brained abilities and develop those skills as well. Wouldn’t it be nice for all of us to be able to be who we are and to be okay with that.
Jim Talbott recently posted..Rock of Fergus
Hi Jim,
I totally enjoy my left-brained analytic ability, but I felt that I was unable to express the creative side of myself. My left-brained censor would always say, “You can’t do ________. You’re not creative.” Fill in the blank with, gardening, cooking, sewing, painting, drawing. And it wasn’t until I got older and could push that censor out of the way, could I express my creativity and truly enjoy it. I feel so much more fulfilled now as a person. It’s good to stretch those muscles on the other side of your brain. I think it makes people feel whole. I know it did for me.
One Love,
Debbie
Hi Nancy, I’m definitely right-brained. I will always enjoy something which is unplanned.
When it comes to living in general, I think in a left-brained way, that would be a balanced one but I really consider myself right-brained. 
Hi Grace,
It’s funny. I used to be predominantly left-brained, but it appears I’ve made a shift because most of my friends are right-brained. And I’m not sure if one is better than the other. But I know I used to feel completely uncreative. So making this shift has been a blessing for me.
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: stevetheowl12
May 21, 2011 at 4:15 am
Great post, Debbie! It reminded me of some of the great teachings I’ve read in Think and Grow Rich by Tony Buzan. What was so interesting about the book was the way the “Great Brains” operated. It turns out that a lot of people in left-brained activities (such as Einstein) actually used right-brained practices to develop their greatest achievements (through a daydream about traveling to the sun on a beam of light), and right-brained activities (such as Da Vinci) who used left-brained practices (such as sketches for paintings that looked like architectural blueprints). I know that, for me, math helped me learn how to play guitar, so I think that what works even better is getting the whole brain involved in the process.
Yes Steve. I had never really thought about that with Think and Grow Rich. Wow, that is really food for thought. Using the non-dominant side of your brain for problem solving. Hmmmm, I feel a blog post coming on. Thank you.
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: stevetheowl12
May 22, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I’m sorry, Debbie. I’d written a post on my blog earlier in the day about Think and Grow Rich, and I guess I had it on the brain when I replied. The author was Tony Buzan, but the book was Use Both Sides of Your Brain that talked about the examples that I mentioned. I’m glad to hear that this reply got your creative energies flowing for another blog post. I can’t wait to see it!
Steve Nicholas recently posted..Think and Grow Rich “The Six Ghosts of Fear”
Twitter: avril1515
May 24, 2011 at 1:55 am
I’m very sure I’m left brained since I was young. But I’m still trying to practice my creativity and let my right brain do it’s share to this blooming creativity in me. LOL
Anyways, I love your post. Thanks for sharing!
Hi April,
Me too. And I’m so much more fulfilled now that I’ve exercised the right side of the brain. What sort of things do you do to be creative?
One Love,
Debbie
I just read this post after reading you art/healing blog. I like your blog style, very original and you raise up good questions and wonderful perspective. Keep doing what you are doing.
Hey Debbie,
Fab post, really enjoyed this. I would say that I am a Lefty as I am naturally creative. However until recently I had been suppressing my creative side and I guess I had been more of a righty!
Now that I am using my creativity more…I feel so much happy with who I am and where I am going. I guess having a good balance of both is desirable and I might have to read up on how I can make the most of both.
Beth
Beth Hewitt recently posted..Gravatars and Signatures – ABC of Building your Brand
Hi Beth,
Isn’t it great to feel balanced? How do you like to express your creativity?
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: loritisot
May 28, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Hi Debbie! I am definitely left-brained – although I can tap into my right brain at times. I feel kind of like I need to “flip a switch” in order to make that happen – I have to consciously focus on doing that – but I can do it. But the left-brained thing is definitely my natural operating mode
I am looking into ways to open up the right side more often – as I do like the balance that results from it.
Thanks!
Lori
Lori Tisot recently posted..Backing Up Facebook Profiles and Fan Pages – A Few Solutions
Hi Lori,
Me too! But I’ve worked on it enough years that I’m pretty balanced. It’s definitely fun stretching the creative side, though.
One Love,
Debbie
Debbie-
I really appreciate this post. I am just like you, I am left brained, but always wanted to be more creative. I started developing those skills in my 20s and today I would say I am definitely more creative. I had no idea I was teaching myself to be creative though! Thanks again.
Tony Tate
Tony Tate recently posted..Is Your Network Marketing Company Your Wife or Your Mistress?
Hi Tony,
Nice to meet a fellow left brainer. You and I were on the same path. We both realized that expressing your creativity makes you feel more whole. Creativity rocks!
One Love,
Debbie
That is heartening that creativity can be learned, Yeah!!!! I know that I have some creativity in me because of all the doodling that I do. But there are times that nothing comes…
I am also looking for a balance though, thanks for this post,
Kathy
Kathy Sammons recently posted..Success in Business – Move Towards Your Dream
Twitter: masterycoach
June 27, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for bringing up this topic. (I love your illustration!) As a predominately right-brained person (RB), I know that a little left-brain (LB) is a wonderful thing, too. A step toward balancing the brain can be to study a little science. RB’s can tap into their natural curiosity to ‘study’ in whatever way that they prefer. LBs can balance by studying how the right brain works. A wonderful book illustrating this is My Stroke of Insight, written by a Brain Anatomist who suffered a massive stroke on the left side of her brain, which left her functioning almost exclusively from the right for a while. As her illness suggests, we need both sides of our brains to make it through the day. Nobody can get through life with only half a brain.
Hi Julia,
Thank you for the book recommendation. Most people have bucket lists, I have reading lists. The brain is such a fascinating subject. And for those of us on the journey of self-discover; no journey would be replete without studying the brain.
Off to Amazon.com to get the book!
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: masterycoach
June 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Awesome Debbie – I love reading about the brain too!
I just loved reading this Debbie. I am so “out there” most of the time and people often say I am right brained. I’m comfortable there, but do try hard to balance both sides. In fact, it sometimes is an effort hahaha.
This is a great article to pass on to my clients who cannot reach the potential of being creative and using that part of the brain to discover their power.
I just love your blog!
Donna
Hi Donna,
I love hanging out with right brained people. I’m always hoping some of their charisma rubs off on me. And thanks for the sweet compliment.
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: _MandySwift_
July 2, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Hi Debbie, I am back for more of your amazing material. Having seen your wonderful art and creativity in your post above, I was really surprised to hear you admit that you are left-brained. But as you say you saw art as you ‘key’ to unlocking the right-brained side of you.
As a VERY right-brained person, I can say that we certainly envy you lefties. Ohh to be more organised and disciplined … !!
Still, success comes in many forms as you point out.
Loving your insights, thanks a lot.
Hi Mandy, thank you so much. For years I envied right brained people. I think the ability to create beauty at your own hands in an amazing experience. I am thrilled to be connected to my creativity as I think it adds so much richness to my life. Balance is definitely the ultimate goal. Thanks for visiting.
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: steve_dooley215
July 4, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I too am definitely left brain dominant. However, I agree that we left-brainers can develop and strengthen our creativity…On the flip side right-brain orientated people can become more disciplined and analytical thinking to an extent. At the end of the day we all must recognize our strengths and capitalize on them whatever they are…..
Hi Steve,
You are so right. Accepting our strengths allows us to move forward in a confident manner. There is no brain dominance ‘better’ than the other. As another left-brainer (is that a word?) how have you cultivated your creativity?
One Love,
Debbie
Hi Debbie
I am left brained too. But an interesting thing happened when I started designing websites.
I had too start using my right brain too.
And now it is a fun challenge to do the graphic design part of site designs.
But i still find it strange when a right brainer just impulsively decide to do something big like move with no planning done.
Ben
Hi Ben,
I have always challenged my analytical brain by intentionally rallying against it. My brain loves symmetry, so I intentionally create imbalance. (when hanging pictures or gardening) It is amazing, when you give yourself the chance to explore creativity with an open mind, to see how we are innately creative. Kudos to you for exploring your creativity!
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: RetireWithCarla
July 5, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I am never sure where I fall, right or left.
In some ways I am very creative, like you I sew and garden.
In others I love to do the number crunching on my clients social media accounts! You know questions like “do we get more followers on the weekend or weekdays?”
Does that mean I have a bit of balance??
Twitter: HansSchoff
July 6, 2011 at 1:44 am
Hey Debbie, growing up I think I was more right-brained, more interested in having fun and living for the moment. But, having to go through some challenging times a few years later, I was forced to learn to become more right-brained to find solutions and figure things out. Today I believe I can tap into either side, given the situation – definitely comes in handy when you’ve got lots of different things going on!
Hans,
It’s wonderful to feel balanced. I think that is what we all seek. And I can appreciate the challenges you faced to tackle the ‘other’ half of your brain. Kudos to you!
One Love,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
I a little more of a left brain with a leaning to the right. I was more right brained when I was younger but as I went through college my left brain had to take over or else I would never have finished. It is funny that corporations are now hiring more right brainers. We need to have those creative people to dream of things for the left braines to actually make.
Hi Joyce,
I think the corporations are all looking for innovation. And we all know that the accountants and engineers are focused on other things. Both of my children are interested in the arts. I’m really excited for their future.
One Love,
Debbie
I love the whole left brain / right brain argument. As the mother of a leftie, I’ve dealt with left hand, right hand issues for awhile, and I am convinced that the most productive people are those who use all of their resources and adjust as needed – whether we are talking about handedness or brain-side preferences.
Thanks for introducing these topics.
By the way, an increasing number of US presidents are lefties, BTW.
Angela
Hi Angela,
Isn’t that fascinating about US presidents? I’m fascinated about the cutting edge discoveries about the brain. It’s amazing how much we still don’t know.
One Love,
Debbie
HI Debbie,
Once again you made me think about my own life. Before I embarked on a Personal Development path, I was very left brained. I could solve problems at the speed of light and was steadily climbing the corporate ladder. Once I moved into the path of creating happiness, it all fell apart for a few years.
My artistic skills will never win an art prize, but I now use creativity in my trainings, video productions, and having fun with life. It is all about balance. Still, living life in the mooment and enjoying it all seems much more fun thatn planning everything to the last detail, at least for me.
Hi John,
I’ve been fascinated while reading your blog! I think we are cut from the same cloth. It is all about balance. I feel whole, now that I’ve opened the door to creativity. My life is so much richer.
One Love,
Debbie
Debbie,
I really enjoyed this post. I am more right brained and I struggle to keep balanced. Building an online business has been forcing me to focus on and improve my linear skills to deal with computer and technical issues. But I am most at home when I am creating. Currently my creativity has been mostly through writing but over the years my sports and dance activities, an even some singing and guitar playing, kept me feeling centered.
Erica
Hi Erica,
Like most creatives, you use more than one modality to express yourself. I have used gardening, sewing clothing, quilting and art quilting as well as guitar playing and photography. My preference at the moment is creating visual art with water soluble oil pastels. Yummy!
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: WillenaRose
July 19, 2011 at 9:47 pm
I am analytical and detail oriented, but I am right-brained. Figure that one out!
For example, I love listening to music with my headphones on and the volume turned up fairly high, so that I can hear every individual instrument in its own part. I take it apart, piece by piece, and then put it all back together again… without ever meaning to… it just happens. I play the piano by ear, and was fascinated by music theory, with its explanation of semitones and whole tones and intervals and harmony… and major scales and minor scales and just how mathematical it all is…
I did well in math, but WORDS are my passion.
Willena Flewelling
Hi Willena,
My daughter always scores 50-50 on the right-brained, left-brained tests. So there are others like you! I love words as well, but think if I had to pick one, math would be my favorite. I just love how math makes sense of things.
Now I consider myself and artist, with mathematical tendencies.
One Love,
Debbie
This is very inspiring for left-brained people who need a little bit more creativity in their life like me! Great article!
I believe I am more left brain oriented.
I like to analyize things sometime talking to long to make a decisicion.
However, I have been told that I am creative or sometimes can be. Go fig?
I’ll have to check out that book you mentioned.
Hi Willie,
I too, was left brain oriented, although now I feel more balanced. I can’t tell you the joy I feel being consciously creative. It fills my soul.
One Love,
Debbie
Twitter: dayafterstore
August 27, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I definitely grew up as a left-brainer; I loved – and excelled at – math and science. And I always envied left-handed people (which I was not one of) growing up, because, as the joke went, they were the ones “in their right minds.”
Sonny@Teen Crafts recently posted..Make Anime-zing Chibi Girl Charm
Debbie,
Thanks for posting this one. I just realized I am a left brained entrepreneur. However, though I don’t have fun most of the time, I take initiative to enjoy for some time.. By the way, I’m not creative also so I definitely can say I’m not a right brained person….