maximizing the creative right brain

Maximizing the creative right brain

We all know when it comes to our brain, we have two sides that make us humans posses the ability to think logically (left side) and creatively (right side). The left side of our brain posses the characteristics of being logical and fact-orientated, so there won't be any imagination or creativity involve. Although the left side of the brain  works in such a conventional way, its cranial counterpart is perceive as the exact opposite. Our right side of our brain posses the characteristics of feeling and imagination, so basically the side of our brain that allows us to think up of creative thoughts and symbols. Perfect example of using the right side of our brain is our times as an adolescent. Think of the times when you were a kid and you would create imaginary friends and create art in preschool. These were the times where we used our right side the most and it explains how as adults only a few of us still use the right side of the brain. As an adult, we look at life differently, because we need to develop a mind that revolves around reality and social norms such as making money after college. Our left side dominates when we grow older, because our environment develops our minds to be ready for the future work environment.

An article by Dan Eden explains more about how our educational system deviates our thought process away from the right side and more towards the left. "Experiments show that most children rank highly creative (right brain) before entering school. Because our educational systems place a higher value on left brain skills such as mathematics, logic and language than it does on drawing or using our imagination, only ten percent of these same children will rank highly creative by age 7. By the time we are adults, high creativity remains in only 2 percent of the population" 

This explains why as an adults it is harder for us to think creatively, because our school system pushes us towards the left side of the brain rather than the right side. In order to maximize the creativity of the right brain,  Dan Eden has a method in which you can shut off the left part of your brain and concentrate solely on your right to increase creativity. 


"Methods have been devised to "shut off" the left brain, allowing the right side to have its say. Creative writing courses often use this method to combat "writer's block." The logical left side is easily bored by lack of input and tends to "doze off" during such activities as meditation (repeating a mantra or word over and over) or in sensory deprivation environments. The right brain is then able to "sneak" into our consciousness, filling our minds with emotional and visual vignettes and freely associated images. All too quickly, though, the left brain will assert itself and dispense with these irrational images, asserting its Spock-like logical dominance and the right brain will have to be content to find expression in dreams." 


Personally, I try to meditate or shut off the left side of my brain by taking a shower. This relaxes my mind and allows me to escape the real world and develop images and words that form together to make my poems. 
Hopefully after reading this you can try to relax your mind and begin to explore your creative side. If it is a success, let me know by leaving a comment below.

Thank you,
Kevin Ha