10.09.2014 Interview with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
What is the message you hope people take away from your presentations?
We are each the life force power of the universe made up of some 50 trillion beautiful cells. We each have the power to chose moment by moment who and how we want to be in the world. Our left and right brains process different kinds of information in different ways and peace, joy, and love are circuitry we can choose to run at any time. I encourage people to pay very close attention to what they are doing with their personal power.
How do audiences usually react to your presentations?
They sit riveted on the edge of their seats for over an hour and walk away with a completely transformed perspective about who they are and what circuitry they have been running to create their lives. I always have a flock of folks rush the stage and I’ve had book signings that have lasted over three hours!
How do you prepare for speaking engagements?
I always travel the day before a presentation because I don’t like the way stress feels inside my body, this also helps minimize the stress of my host. I am a big energy speaker and consciously choose to isolate before I get on stage. Every audience is different and since my presentation is all about their brains then I personalize my remarks to that groups particular interests. But overall, it’s about empowering people to recognize the gift of what we are.
What do you gain personally from being a public speaker?
I almost died on the morning of the stroke and I live my life with incredible gratitude for the time I have here. I chose to recover to be able to share what I learned about our brains and how we have the ability to choose which circuitry we want to run. I love people and I love helping people figure out how to own their power and manifest the lives they want to live. My presentations are both very smart and very loving.
How much does humor factor into your keynotes and other speaking engagements?
My presentations are stippled with appropriate humor. Who knew a presentation by a trained scientist about the brain could be so interesting and entertaining! My audience will laugh, they will cry and they will walk away with a new and profound understanding about who they are and what they are doing here. It’s a beautiful experience for everyone.
What are some of the most interesting discoveries you have made?
- We have the ability to choose what circuitry we want to run in our brains.
- Each of our left and right brains have very different personalities and we can learn to choose which one we want to project at any moment.
- The brain is capable of recovery when we get out of our own way and set it up for success.
- We are more powerful than we ever imagined.
How are your keynote presentations unique?
I speak the language of both the left brain scientific/medical community as well as the language of the right brain compassionate/ artistic community. I am a sought after speaker in both worlds.
Do you have any unique memorable moments in your speaking career?
I love it when something happens on stage – a mic goes out or I forget the words to the Brain Bank Jingle. When these sort of ‘mess ups’ happen it is a lovely opportunity for me to “practice what I preach”. I could choose to let my left brain be embarrassed and freak out but I choose to make an example out of myself and just crack up with humor. Life’s a journey, a wonderful memorable journey and these sorts of opportunities are precious.
How can we control and train the brain in order to be happier individuals?
First we have to be willing to pay attention to what we are thinking and feeling and realize that we have other options. Second, we need to be willing to stop the old negative circuits and run the ones that bring us into the present moment experience.