Roger Sperry (Nobel Prize Winner for Science in 1981) conducted the “split-brain” experiments and found that it is the right hemisphere of the brain that manages our intuition, nonverbal mind, subconscious, and abstract information. The right side of our brain uses feeling which can’t be expressed in words, is ‘big picture’-oriented, and where imagination exists. It rules our symbols and images, sense of present and future, philosophy and spirituality, and is where we hold our ability to “get it” (i.e. meaning) as well as spatial relationships. When we experience our “sixth sense”, extrasensory perception, fantasies we are using our ‘right brain’. This is the area of our brain that presents us with possibilities and is risk taking. You can see where development of this area of brain functioning could be crucial to any entrepreneur.
Our left hemisphere, on the other hand… or brain, controls brain functions that handle concrete knowledge and uses logic. The left side of our brain is detail-oriented, facts-ruled, and uses words and language. It is our left brain that sees only present and past, governs math and science skills, can comprehend, acknowledges pattern perception, knows object name, and is reality-based. When we are in the left side of brain function, we are able to form strategies, are practical and logical, and stay in thinking that is deemed ‘safe’ and non-risky.
Many people (artists excluded) tend to make business or other decisions from the factual information relating to a topic from the left-brain, without jumping into the pool of other relevant information coming from the subconscious, abstract ideas and other instincts from the right brain. Looking over the right and left brain functions, it is glaringly apparent that our educational system most often favors the left brain, so it’s no wonder that we are in this habit of using it much of the time.
Connecting with and using our intuition is about maximizing full left and right brain potential, as well as integrating it with our body, spirit and sense of purpose. When you accept the use of intuition as an entrepreneurial tool you will see how it facilitates all of your decision-making, hiring, product development and managerial relationships- and how you can also use it in your personal life to be more centered and peaceful as well.
Let’s take the case of Richard, a 60 year old successful, entrepreneur who wanted to find a personal exit strategy before he sold his 200 million dollar company and was struggling to figure out what to do next after dedicating 30 years to developing and running his fashion business. He had been mulling over several possible directions (with his mind going in circles) and, after a few months of indecision his business coach suggested that he seek an answer while he slept as he was resistant to meditating while awake. He was skeptical about this weird idea but finally decided to give it a try after thinking that he had nothing to lose. After one to two weeks of setting his intention to ‘incubate an answer’ while he slept, he finally awakened in the middle of the night feeling great and energized with an entirely new idea – to run for political office. This was his moment of clarity coming from his sleep state. It was something he had not seriously considered before, but he did feel a sense of purpose to give back and serve the community. This was a good solution for him as it was exactly in alignment with his core values and “felt right” in all aspects physically, emotionally and mentally.
Even Albert Einstein got “hunches” when he was daydreaming that led to brilliant theories. Where did these ideas originate? Einstein himself reported that his best work resulted from ideas while engaging in daydreaming while laying on the ground and gazing up at the sky through half-closed eyes.
Don’t we all daydream? The difference between our daydreams and Einstein’s daydreams is perhaps how we view our daydreams and whether or not we discount or ‘naysay’ whatever we perceive or experience during them. Real solutions to almost any problem or confusion can be created or experienced without trying while engaging in daydreaming. Haven’t you noticed sometimes that when you have over-thought a problem without reaching a solution it can help tremendously to get away from it briefly or for a day doing something else that creates joy or relaxation and “suddenly” the answer seems to ‘come to you’?
Physiological changes take place in your body and your brain when you are in a state of daydreaming, relaxation or meditation. You feel like you are floating in another world, disconnected from your usual awareness. Your brainwaves literally change in quality when you fantasize, relax deeply or meditate– and you are more readily able to use the power of your right brain. What happens while in this “light-alpha“(relaxation) or sometimes “theta” (just between sleep and wakefulness) state of mind as measured by electroencephalogram is that you become more relaxed and ideas can come and go more easily. You open up to the entire realm of possibilities and can tap into your creativity, memory recall, and inner wisdom.
How do I intentionally access my alpha or theta brain level? To access these deeper states of consciousness, you basically have several choices. You can learn to do meditation, use guided meditation/visualization from others, practice mindfulness meditation, deep breathing techniques, or any number of different types of walking/sitting/standing meditations. We offer guided meditation and mindfulness meditation CDs that can be downloaded at our website www.shiftyourlife.com or at www.digstation.com .You may also enter into the theta-alpha state of mind quickly using today’s brain entrainment technology by simply pressing play on your CD player or focus trainer. Many olympic athletes and professional golfers practice with focus trainers to improve their skills through visualization.
Important Points About Intuitive Development:
1. Everyone has intuition.
2. Intuition must be developed regularly in order to gain quick access to intuitive guidance.
3. Intuition is unemotional as it comes from the innate wisdom or your True Essence or universal wisdom.
4. Intuition and reason are complementary as information from both can be invaluable and must be taken into consideration together before making a final decision.
5. Intuition requires follow-through action in a timely manner if it is to be useful at all.
6. With practice (a must) you will learn to trust your intuitive guidance as you accumulate ‘knowings’. You develop ‘knowings’ by receiving confirmation that your intuition was correct over time. You can see that it is difficult to trust it if you do not use this gift with regularity.
Tips For Developing Intuition Even Further:
1. Briefly make notes on your intuitive experiences following meditative or intuitive moments. Recalling your successes keeps your fears or disbelief suspended and allows you to increase trust in your intuition. Monitoring your intuitive “hits” can transform even the most skeptical people into believers of intuition.
2. Use the tools and techniques described in our books to transform anger, guilt, shame, fear, etc since these roadblocks can also thwart your efforts to access your inner ‘knowing’. When you are too angry, emotional or feeling a lack of inner peace, it is hard to reach an alpha or theta state or even trust your intuition at all. <Hint: This is where you need to consider reviewing the teachings in our books and meditation CDs if you feel unable to access your inner wisdom.>
3. The more relaxed and playful you are, the easier it is to access your intuition. You need to be able to get out of your head and into your heart for your self. Have you noticed how it is easier to access your intuition for someone you have great compassion for in the moment? You are not in your head when you are truly in your heart. The Loving Benefactor Mindfulness Meditation in our book or on our second guided meditation CD can be helpful for getting into your heart.
4. Do not discuss your intuition with someone who is likely to ridicule you or your experiences as this is the quickest way to shut down your intuition as you get into fear of judgment. It helps to be in a positive and supportive environment to foster belief and trust in your self. You might consider a meditation group, attending classes related to intuitive development, buy CDs such as ours, or socialize with like-minded people.
5. Once you have developed, used and begun to trust your intuition, you might open up your business or company to encourage using intuitive insight to balance logic and rational analysis as a whole-brain way of thinking.
Hope this is helpful and helps you Shift Your Life! 🙂
The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)