Expand your perception. Change your life. | Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor explains the 4 key ”characters” of the brain, and how understanding each can expand your perception of yourself, and the world, forever.

At age 37, neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke that would take her eight years to fully recover from. This is how it changed her understanding of the brain.

In this interview, Dr. Jill draws a map of the human brain, explaining how it is comprised of four distinct modules, each serving a unique role in function and personality. This combination of cognitive and emotional components gives rise to the multidimensional characters within each of us.

Are you looking to be more rational, more creative, more forgiving, or perhaps less rigid in your thinking? Dr. Jill suggests that by becoming aware of the four modules of our brains, we can consciously choose to engage specific parts. This awareness allows us to harness the true power of our brains and shape who we want to become, ultimately fostering less anxiety, more inner peace, and a vastly more purposeful life.

We created this video in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators.

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About Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor:

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage (AVM) in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book in the category Stroke in the Amazon marketplace.

Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations about the beauty of our human brain. She focuses on how we can activate the power of our neuroplasticity to not only recover from neurological trauma, but how we can purposely choose to live a more flexible, resilient, and satisfying life.

In 2008 Dr. Jill gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 27.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast. Her new book, Whole Brain Living – the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life is a #1 release on Amazon in categories ranging from Neuroscience to Nervous System Diseases and Stroke.

[nancye]

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor had a stroke encompassing her entire brain—because of her training and years of experience, she experienced the stroke as if she was watching it happen…she knew what was happening. She came back from that to write two books. She’s brilliant.

[ConfusedSpaceCapsule-nubc]

I paused the video at the 14 second mark. An older lady holding a brain and spinal cord is so metal. Its underplayed by the tone of the video but that shit goes hard. Love it

[yareslypea]

im criying bc the joy she transmit to me about being alive is something that i never fellt before, like she dont need anything about religion to transmit me the importance of being alive i was dealing with depression and i found this woman so motivate to keep going and maybe bc is mixing the science i love and the faith taht i dont have

[elib]

Almost 6 or 8 years ago or so when I was in high school, I remember hearing an NPR story about a neuroscientist having a stroke and being able to accurately diagnose her symptoms mid stroke. Also heard that she made a full recovery. You can imagine my joy finding this video

[rafiq]

This is much more in depth and useful than what most people believe when they say "right-brain" vs "left-brain"

[TalkToMe]

Her passion for life is so inspiring. Great outlook on being able to feel emotions, even the bad ones. We're all walking miracles.. Everyone should have the opportunity to feel like they're winning every morning they wake up.

[Rawi]

From my understanding
Left Thinking : calculation/rationalisation
Left Emotional: memory/linear narrative analysis
Right emotional: feeling
Right Thinking: experiencing

Now thats just how I understood it, I could be way off the mark.

[jithenin]

“ That’s Personal Freedom, to be able to know that I have the power to choose moment by moment who and how I wanna be, regardless of external circumstances.And it’s a wonderful way of Being “ DR JILL BOLTE TAYLOR, thank you for this beautifully insightful video ❤️👍

[gloriyahboregah]

It’s like she puts no effort into finding succinct vocabulary to verbalize her thoughts. Her energy is wholeheartedly directed towards exploring her own mind. That is a genius right there

[deemedsupreeme]

This is all stuff I figured out on my own through my own meditations, analyzing and observing the sensations of my body. It's so great to hear someone explain this so simply and scientifically

[ErmandDurro]

I am currently reading the book "Whole brain living" and I love it. Thank you so much Jill for such an amazing insight that you are giving us. 🙏🏻

[tatiyana]

My therapist often answered my questions about why some people do this or don't do that, -
She answered me: most people live without regaining consciousness... 😒

[sarapopaj]

I literally clicked on this video because I was curious and after almost 1 minute of watching it I realized that I read her book last summer.She talked about the ictus she had and what she learned from it.I truly appreciated her book so much!

[skippybe]

I truly believe that this message, if received and fully accepted by more people (if not everyone) has he power to completely transform our shared humanity and understanding of why the divisive nonsense, the destruction of our planet, our dualistic approach to everything, and our lack of meaning is simply a waste of time and serving no one.

Messages like these need to be not only heard but deeply contemplated and practiced as a way of life.

Dr. Jill Bolte's TED Talk completely changed the trajectory of my life and how I think and even a small dose of his message could have profound impacts on life as we all know it. This was a beautiful way to revisit her message.

[LoretoEsTorres]

8:54 “Personal Freedom” - having the power to choose moment by moment who and how I want to be regardless of my external circumstances. — It’s amazing how things are falling into place, messages of unity and union being expresses by different people to their specific audiences. I have been an admirer and follower of Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and recently of Sadhguru. To my mind what Jill is talking about here is the goal as well of Sadhguru’s “Inner Engineering”. The processes involved may be different but intended goal is the same — Unity, Union, Yoga.

[cynsen]

I had a left brain stroke when I was 31. I had an amazing recovery and am now normalish. I read Jill’s book about two years into my post-stroke life. It was really good because it talked about all those things I felt but didn’t have the language for it. Thank you Jill!

[LuixDirtyBit]

I couldn't explain why, but I cried the whole video. I've been searching for years through meditation and psychedelics the experience she described after having the stroke. I know it was a tragedy, but I'm sure that changed her deeply for the good in the long term. I'd love to be more right brained.

[Intention_seekers]

I just cried listening to this. I’ve never FELT more understood so quickly and this book is being pushed to the top of the list and is getting started today .

[carmenmichaelian]

This is such a rich video about the brain. For the past 7 years, I have been getting to know myself. It started with self-care and it turned into so much more. I'm a very emotional person and I also am a thinking person.

[ideaistic]

my stroke of insight is a hilarious title for a book about brains lol