Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight
Posted on: June 29, 2009
Posted in: Biology, Featured, Lectures, Psychology, Spirituality, Video
On the morning of December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four brief hours. As the damaged left side of her brain–the rational, grounded, detail- and time-oriented side–swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.
In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her unique perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery, and the sense of omniscient understanding she gained from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wounded brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning of December 10th.
Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have happened to her. It has taught her that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well-being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter. A fascinating journey into the mechanics of the human mind, My Stroke of Insight is both a valuable recovery guide for anyone touched by a brain injury, and an emotionally stirring testimony that deep internal peace truly is accessible to anyone, at any time.
This talk was held at TED. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where thinkers and doers gather to find and share inspiration.
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June 29th, 2009 at 22:12
What an incredibly beautiful story. Wow.
July 1st, 2009 at 06:13
that story gave me a lot of hope for the future, but im not sure why. amazing insight into the mind
July 7th, 2009 at 22:58
That was moving
July 12th, 2009 at 03:54
Really inspiring. Thanks.
July 18th, 2009 at 03:58
Fantastic story!
July 22nd, 2009 at 00:01
She needs to try shrooms, then realize that it doesn’t take a stroke and a near-death experience to get the exact same effect. Heck, good shrooms last longer than 4 hours, lol.
July 23rd, 2009 at 07:36
The book is equally mesmerizing.
August 16th, 2009 at 14:27
I have a question, if left hemisphere is ego and language and stuff that makes us human, and right hemisphere makes us connected to the world, then what animals do use their left hemisphere for? Because they are always one with nature, or are they not?
August 24th, 2009 at 13:39
that was absolutely beautiful. you touched me deeply.
October 29th, 2009 at 00:00
This bassicly answeared all my questions you see i recently removed that voice in me through meditation … not that its completly gone but i didnt even know what i was doing and now this answears how i should be living thank you for this video .. This answeared so many questions i have been having all at once ..
October 29th, 2009 at 00:04
johnyD : its not at all that simple most animals hunt eachother aswell kill etc .. And we kill animals etc how are they suppose to react to us killing them other animals killing them in discovering some sence of belonging to all living beings .. since most animals stick to there own aswell … We are given the conciousness of being ablee to choose to connect with all living beings if we manage to remove our greed … And this is the dilemma of mankind aswell to feel togheterness and then watch poeple who care not for the world just themselves ..
October 29th, 2009 at 18:46
I woke today (as I often do) fearful. I remembered what I had heard and became aware of my own wounded left brain from hurts, memories, anxieties. I then switched my awarness to my right side and felt a sense of peace and well being. I will settle for that. thanks