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Left-Brain, Right-Brain, Whole Brain Think

Filed Under Analysis, Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 23 Comments

Analysis and Synthesis

It’s no secret that our brains have two hemispheres or that the two work differently. Despite how we talk, people aren’t really right-brain thinkers or left-brain thinkers. Everyone uses both sides of their brain in everything that they do. Each hemisphere takes charge of certain specialized thinking.

What is managed by the left hemisphere of the brain?

  • action and response on the right side of the body
  • sequential and linear thinking — a, b, c, . . . 1,2,3
  • reading left to right
  • interpreting the meaning of text without context
  • analyzing details — drilling down into spreadsheets
  • knowing logic

What is managed by the right hemisphere of the brain?

  • action and response on the left side of the body
  • simultaneous thinking — That’s a math book. That’s newspaper.
  • reading right to left
  • interpreting the meaning of context
  • synthesis — the global view
  • knowing the world

People do have attributes that lean toward left-brain directed thinking or right-brain directed thinking. Here’s what Daniel Pink says about that in his book A Whole New Mind.

Call the first approach L-Directed Thinking. It is a form of thinking and an attitude to life that is characteristic of the left hemisphere of the brain — sequential, literal, functional, textual, and analytic. Ascendant in the Information Age, exemplified by computer programmers, prized by hardheaded organizations, and emphasized in schools, this approach is directed by left-brain attributes, toward left-brain results. Call the other approach R-Directed Thinking. It is a form of thinking and an attitude to life that is characteristic of the right hemisphere of the brain — simultaneous, metaphorical, aethetic, contextual, and synthetic. Underemphasized in the Information Age, exemplified by creators and caregivers, shortchanged by organizations, and neglected in schools, this approach is directed by right-brain attributes toward right-brain results.

Of course, we need both approaches in order to craft fulfilling lives and build productive, just societies. But the mere fact that I feel obliged to underscore that obvious point is perhaps further indication of how much we’ve been in the thrall of reductionist, binary thinking. Despite those who have deified the right brain beyond all scientific evidence, there remains a strong tilt toward the left. Our broader culture tends to prize L-Directed Thinking more highly than its counterpart, taking this approach more seriously and viewing the alternatve as useful, but secondary.

But this is changing . . .

What changes do you see? Are you using your right-brain talents more? Are you feeling less appreciated for your left-brain abilities?

–ME Liz” Strauss
Behind every successful business is an outstanding manager –The Perfect Virtual Manager.

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Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Let’s Talk About Stupid . . .

Filed Under Analysis, Comments, Community, Links, Marketing, Outside the Box, SOB Business, Successful Blog | 3 Comments

Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight

We’re Talking about Stupid . . . Yep Unbelievable!

. . . like dumb laws, stupid situations, crazy actions, and anything else that comes up.

Oh, and bring a link about an unbelievable thing to share, if you have one.

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

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David Armano Was Drawing Conclusions Yesterday

Filed Under Analysis, Marketing, Successful Blog | 12 Comments

I agree

Look what David Armano has noticed something about business and blogging. Click his logo to take a look at what he said yesterday.

Logic + Emotion

I agree.

In fact, as a web publisher who blogs, I inviteyou to consider this question posed by Robert Hruzek: How Has Blogging Changed You?

I’ll start. My answer’s in the comments.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.

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Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Let’s Talk About Home!

Filed Under Analysis, Comments, Community, Links, Marketing, Outside the Box, SOB Business, Successful Blog | 11 Comments

Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight

We’re Talking about the Joys of Being Home!

We can talk about how we feel when we get back home . . . our own house, computer, back yard, bed, bathroom, kitchen, family, car, alarm clock, food, and anything else that comes up.

Oh, and bring a link about home to share, if you have one.

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

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In the Real World — The Half-Full, Half-Empty Glass

Filed Under Analysis, Successful Blog | 2 Comments

Saying the Same Things

I like my intellectual arguments, respectful, thorough, and balanced. But more and more what I see everywhere I look are two sides trying to be so opposite that they’re almost becoming the same. It’s worse than boring. It’s stifling, and at the same time amazing.

I’ve picked up negative comments removed the names and played them back to people I know have a stand. Folks on both sides of an issue have claimed the comments describe their opponent perfectly. Each side is saying the same things over and over. It’s proof that something wrong is going on. Don’t they know?

Read the whole feature in today’s Blog Herald by clicking the logo.

The Blog Herald

It’s about blogging and real life.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Liz Strauss at The Blog Herald, The Blogging Times, and Who’s One in a Million?

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