“The more aware I remain about what my brain is saying and how those thoughts feel inside my body, the more I own my power in choosing what I want to spend my time thinking about and how I want to feel.” - Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. suffered a massive stroke in the left-side of her brain at age 37 - and recovered fully over the following eight years. She shares her remarkable story in her book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey.

Even though this book is written by a neuroanatomist - a Harvard-educated one no less - it is not a “science-y” read. Taylor does share plenty of scientific information, all reader-friendly and easy to grasp and understand.

Her recounting of her stroke experience is incredible. She does a great job conveying to her readers what happens when the left-brain chatter shuts off and one has only right-brain faculties. With the left-brain “off” Taylor felt a natural sense of well-being and contentedness. She experienced an inner peace like none other. Her observations and experience lead her (and her readers) to reconsider why we give the “left-brain” so much control over our lives.

Post-stroke, Taylor adopts new ways of thinking. She is steadfast in her efforts to find and maintain the inner peace she experienced during her stroke. She now lives with greater intention and attention:
“I’m a devout believer that paying attention to our self-talk is vitally important for our mental health. In my opinion, making the decision that internal verbal abuse is not acceptable behavior is the first step toward finding deep inner peace.”

Fans of Empoword’s see it, think it, be it philosophy will find Taylor’s insights and information interesting, useful and inspiring.

As you decide where you want to put your attention this coming year, read My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. It will give you much insight, as well as tools on how to stay awake and attentive to the fascinating dynamics between our left and right brains.