I’m So Left Brained I Can’t Think Right.

Do you work with someone who relates better to their computer than to you? Do you know someone who has to do everything “by the book”? Do those people who want to “get in touch with their feelings” drive you crazy? Are you annoyed by that person who is always “looking at the big picture”?

These four questions are based on whole brain concepts - how our brains process information, communicate with others, learn, and solve problems. It simply states that our brains process information in different ways in our right and left brain hemispheres. It further states that one hemisphere will dominate.

The left hemi¬sphere prefers a logical, detailed, sequential, and structured approach. A left-brained person will be on time, have a plan of action, want just the “facts” and feel comfortable “doing it by the book”. They will follow a structured, traditional approach to problem solving. (Think of an Engineer)

The right hemisphere is comfortable with an impulsive, random, emotional, or ambiguous approach. A right-brained person is usually late, spontaneous, wants to get a “feeling” for the situation, and tries a new way. They may “see” the answer to a problem in a few minutes. (Think of an Artist)

Here’s an example of how this gets lived out…imagine a left-brained husband married to a right-brained wife and on the spur of the moment, she wants to go out to dinner…he immediately wants to know where, when, how long, and how much it will cost! When left-brained people look at right-brained people they think, “What a scatter brain…they’re flaky!” And when right-brained people hear left-brained people they think, “What an inflexible person…they’re uptight!”

Talk about a failure to communicate! We just don’t understand each other. How many arguments have come from not recognizing the brain language someone else “speaks”. It happens at work, in marriages, with friends, and in other countries. No one is immune.

I’ve seen this in schools. Teachers have described good students as those who tend to pay attention, be organized, follow instructions, be on time, complete assignments, and stay in their seats. They have also described poor students as those who have short attention spans, are disorganized, are usually late, don’t finish assignments, and have trouble sitting still! Sound familiar? Our schools are designed for the left-brained, good student.

Whole brain concepts are not about right or wrong -- good or bad. They’re about our preferred processing styles. They explain why we do some of the things we do. They legitimize hunches, intuitions, dreams, and flashes of inspiration that we may have passed off as irrational. Knowing that we are all different may be the greatest use of the theory.

Here are a few things you can do to about your brain dominance…

1. Recognize your dominate preference – right or left brained. Realize that what you say, how you interpret what you hear, what you do, and how you do it is influenced by your thinking style, and this is true for others.

2. Appreciate your own uniqueness…and the uniqueness of others. You are wonderfully made. (See Psalm 139:13-16)

3. Look for opportunities to exercise your “weaker mental muscles”. If you’re more right- brained try, balancing a check book or being on time for one whole day. If you’re more left-brained try, taking a 10 minute daydreaming break or telling someone significant to you, all the things you like about them.

If you find this interesting, let me give you a few cautions. Avoid thinking brain theory is the answer…it is not a cure-all. Don't cram every situation into a right brain/left brain box. People are still people. Avoid categorizing others. A statement like "I know what's wrong with you--you're left-brained" is dangerous. Categorizing people causes us to miss their uniqueness.

If you do find this interesting and want to know more, check out my website and drop me a note.

From a small mental pub somewhere in my right brain where I’m giving my left brain a break…

Charlie