Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist and author of "My Stroke of Insight," shares her profound journey following a severe stroke. She discusses how understanding the brain can enhance happiness and health. Listeners will learn about the distinct functions of the brain's left and right hemispheres, the burnout risks from over-relying on the left, and her innovative methods like "The Brain Huddle" for emotional balance. Dive into her insights on navigating emotions through the 90-second rule for a better mental toolkit.
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Stroke of Insight
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor had a stroke at 37, losing her ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall her life.
She observed her left hemisphere deteriorate as a scientist, fascinated by the neurological changes.
insights INSIGHT
Ego and Oneness
The left hemisphere houses the ego and creates stress through external world relationships.
Losing left brain function brought peace and a sense of oneness with the universe.
insights INSIGHT
Left vs. Right Brain
The left brain creates individual identity and manages past/future, while the right brain perceives present-moment interconnectedness.
Both hemispheres are essential for a balanced human experience.
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On December 10, 1996, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, suffered a rare form of stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. This event led to a complete deterioration of her cognitive functions within four hours, yet she alternated between the logical left brain and the intuitive right brain, experiencing euphoria and a sense of complete well-being. The book chronicles her eight-year recovery and the profound insights she gained into the brain's functioning and the potential for inner peace. Taylor's experience has been widely acclaimed, including a viral TED talk and recognition as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2008.
Whole Brain Living
The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life
Jill Bolte Taylor
In "Whole Brain Living," Jill Bolte Taylor expands on her previous work by introducing a framework for understanding the four distinct characters within the brain. She explains how these characters—two from the left hemisphere and two from the right—influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Taylor provides practical strategies for integrating these characters to achieve greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the brain's structure to improve mental well-being. It offers a unique blend of neuroscience and self-help, empowering readers to take control of their mental and emotional states.
Sea of Tranquility
Emily St John Mandel
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.
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The better you understand your brain – and the more effectively you can work with it – the happier and healthier you will be. This is the central contention of today’s extraordinary guest, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and she makes this assertion based on two levels of deep expertise. First, Dr. Taylor is a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist. Second, back in the ‘90s, she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. She later recovered, but that experience, which you will hear her describe in riveting detail, gave her incredible insight into how the brain works.
She wrote a massive best-selling book called, My Stroke of Insight, which she has now followed up with a book called, Whole Brain Living, where she lays out exactly how to understand your brain and how to work with it.
In this episode we talk about:
Dr. Taylor’s personal story and how her life has changed post-stroke
The marvels of the human brain
The differences between the brain’s two hemispheres
How our society is skewed towards the left hemisphere and how living too much in the left hemisphere can burn us out
The brain’s “four characters” and how to work with these characters through a practice she calls “The Brain Huddle”
The differences and similarities between “The Brain Huddle” and another practice we’ve talked about before on this show called, “RAIN”
And she describes a tool for understanding your emotions called, “The 90-Second Rule”
10% Happier with Dan Harris 
