Consciousness, The Genesis Story, Jung, & Ending Inner Conflict — Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Jun 19, 2025

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist and stroke survivor, shares her incredible journey of rediscovering identity after a life-altering stroke. She discusses her concept of 'Whole Brain Living,' highlighting the importance of the four characters within us for decision-making and emotional health. Jill explores the influence of the left and right brain on consciousness, emphasizing unity over individuality. She introduces techniques like the 'BRAIN huddle' for transforming inner conflict into clarity, and the significance of mindfulness and breath in grounding ourselves.

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INSIGHT

Identity Roots in Left Brain

The left hemisphere cells create our sense of identity and boundaries of self.
Losing these cells dissolves the individual self, revealing our true nature as interconnected energy.

INSIGHT

Consciousness Is Layered

Consciousness varies with brain function; losing left hemisphere function alters but does not erase consciousness.
Consciousness layers build upon abilities like language and self-boundary recognition.

INSIGHT

Stroke Revealed Love's Primacy

Losing left brain thinking leaves a dominant feeling of love and joy.
Without individual boundaries, consciousness experiences a collective love and pure aliveness.

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Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, stroke survivor, and bestselling author of My Stroke of Insight and Whole Brain Living. With over 27 million views, her TED Talk is one of the most viewed of all time. In this conversation, we explore: — How a left hemisphere stroke radically shifted Jill’s view of identity — What it means to live from a “whole brain” perspective and Dr. Taylor revolutionary model of the four “characters” we all have within us — Why our sense of self is just one “character” of four and how learning to recognize and integrate these characters can help us make better decisions, improve our relationships, and access deeper states of inner peace. — How the “BRAIN huddle” can transform inner conflict into calm clarity. And more. To explore Dr. Taylor’s work, visit https://drjilltaylor.com or check out her books My Stroke of Insight and Whole Brain Living. — Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage (AVM) in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book in the category Stroke in the Amazon marketplace. Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations about the beauty of our human brain. She focuses on how we can activate the power of our neuroplasticity to not only recover from neurological trauma, but how we can purposely choose to live a more flexible, resilient, and satisfying life. In 2008 Dr. Jill gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 27.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast. Her new book, Whole Brain Living – the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life is a #1 release on Amazon in categories ranging from Neuroscience to Nervous System Diseases and Stroke. --- Interview Links: — Dr Taylor’s website: https://drjilltaylor.com — Dr Taylor’s book: https://amzn.to/43EiPA1