Okay, so I’ve been writing about ways for everyday folks to access their right brains more frequently. I’ve encouraged meditation, listening to music, envisioning the “big picture,” and being more relational. And indeed all of these strategies will help. I’ve also encouraged creative and artistic efforts. Paint or write or draw or sculpt or do whatever is to your interest and passion but be creative. Creativity lies in the right brain and so to allow yourself creativity is to encourage right brain living. But you have to do it! You can’t think about it and wonder about it and do nothing.
I have an acquaintance, a very successful business woman, who has been bogged down with the left-brain demands of her organization and her career. She complained to me of mild depression, fatigue and “staleness.” She wasn’t having any fun in life and was frustrated. Then it happened. She bought some art supplies and began to “do” art. Her efforts at first, while fun, were challenging and the product of her efforts often unsatisfying but she persisted.
As she stuck with it she got better. Her art got better and so did she. Her mild dysphoria lifted and her energy level improved and she reported that she felt a new zest in everything she did. What she had done was to move to the right brain for some creativity, playfulness and fun. And in doing that she had rested and revitalized her left-brain.
Thinking about this right brain stuff is interesting, and considering how some day you’ll try to work it in to your life is hopeful, but nothing changes if you don’t do it. So take the leap, make the effort and, as the Nike slogan goes, “Just Do It!”