From Zombie to Zen: The Power of Curiosity to Balance the Brain Hemispheres

You’ve probably heard that the left side of your brain is for logic and the right for creativity. But what if that’s inaccurate or at least only half the story?

Neuroscientist Dr Iain McGilchrist’s ground-breaking work in ‘The Master and His Emissary’ offers a more nuanced perspective. He argues that the right hemisphere is foundational, providing a holistic understanding of the world, while the left hemisphere is a tool for analysing and interacting with that world. The left hemisphere should act in service of the right, yet in our fast-paced, technology-driven world, we’ve become increasingly reliant on left-brain functions which is impacting cognitive, emotional and societal wellbeing.

The Modern Imbalance: Left hemisphere dominance

The left hemisphere can be described as “disconnected,” with a narrow focus on conceptual thought. It is highly verbal and abstract, operating from a top-down approach based on priorities, efficiency, categorization, and a mechanistic view of the world.

In contrast, the right hemisphere excels in creativity, holistic, systems thinking and an intuitive grasp of the world, emphasizing context, relationships, and the bigger picture.

This overemphasis on left-brain functions has led to a disconnect from our bodies, emotions, and the natural world. We’ve forgotten who we are and what makes us feel alive. Furthermore this imbalance contributes to a range of issues, from mental health challenges to environmental destruction and limits our sense of interconnectedness with the world around us.

For instance, experimental suppression of the left hemisphere can cause people to perceive inanimate objects, like the sun, as alive. Conversely, suppressing the right hemisphere makes people see living things as lifeless, akin to zombies disconnected from the planet. The neuroscientist Jill Bolte-Taylor shares some brilliant insight here on this following her own experience of suffering a stroke.

So how do we find our way out of left brain dominance?

Curiosity: The Bridge

Curiosity, a natural human inclination, is a potent force for rebalancing the brain. Rooted in the right hemisphere, it invites exploration, wonder, and a thirst for knowledge.

Whilst the left hemisphere tends to focus on known facts and established processes it often leads to a closed loop of repetitive thinking, or the experience of being on autopilot.

But by fostering a curious mindset, we break this loop, inviting the right hemisphere to contribute its broader, more integrative perspective. Curiosity becomes a catalyst for achieving balance, encouraging us to see beyond immediate details and appreciate the larger picture. The wise and wonderful ‘Curiosity Sherpa’ Tom Morgan shares some great thinking here on how curiosity can break us out of autopilot.

Following Your Curiosity

Following your curiosity is a great first step to achieving balance. Like Hansel and Gretel dropping breadcrumbs to find their way back through the forest, what breadcrumbs can you follow to find your way back to feeling fully alive. And what emerges as you start to follow those breadcrumbs? As Joseph Campbell famously said, “Follow your bliss, and doors will open where there were only walls.” This is exactly what happens when we start to follow our curiosity.

Being attuned to the somatic experiences of following your curiosity is key here. What makes your heart skip a beat? When do your eyes sparkle? What gives you a feeling of fire in your belly? McGilchrist emphasizes that the right hemisphere is more deeply connected with the body than the left , so take notice of the sensations you experience when following your curiosity.

In fact meta-analyses show that the right hemisphere dominates in receiving and interpreting information from the heart and body. The heart is a great teacher and in my experience typically know the best path to follow.

Becoming more holistic and right-hemisphere focused also fosters empathy and social trust, creating more harmony in the world and reducing destructive impulses. It seems that experiencing the world as alive makes us less willing to destroy it.

Unlocking the Right Brain: Practices to Enhance Holistic Thinking

Alongside following your curiosity, there are several other ways to activate the right brain hemisphere further. Open awareness and somatic meditation are ideal choices as they promote non-directive, open attention. Other routes include artistic practices and nature-connectedness. Anything which allows for unstructured, bottom-up attention without a specific focal point are beneficial.

Streetwisdom is a great example of this- a creative walking experience that invites us to engage with the streets and environment around us, exploring possibilities and finding clarity.

Interestingly, yogis and meditators have long known the benefits of practices designed to enhance holism. For example, single-pointed mindfulness meditation harnesses the left-brain hemisphere, while open awareness meditation or metta activates the right brain hemisphere, promoting balance and harmony.

In Conclusion: Rebalancing for a Fulfilled Life

The divided brain theory underscores the necessity of balancing the left and right hemispheres. A curious mindset calls us towards the things that truly make us come alive, reconnecting us with ourselves and the world around us. By embracing these approaches, we can foster a more integrated, fulfilling way of life, capable of addressing individual and societal challenges with greater wisdom and empathy.

As Howard Thurman wisely said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Questions for Reflection

• What is calling for exploration in your life?
• What feels most alive for you right now?
• What experiment do you want to run that your curiosity is urging you to try?
• How can you notice left brain hemisphere dominance in your own life?
• What practices could you integrate into your daily life to rebalance the brain hemispheres?
• What first step could you take towards following your bliss?