Right Brain vs. Left Brain

Experimentation has shown that two different sides are hemispheres of the brain responsible for different manners of thinking.

Most individuals have distinct preference for one of these two styles of thinking.

Some however are whole brained, and equally adept at both .

In general, schools tend to favor left brain modes of thinking while downplaying the right brained ones.

Left brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy.

Right brained subjects on the other hand, focus on aesthetics, feeling,  and creativity.

Left brain thinking focuses on the following:

• logical
• sequential
• rational
• analytical
• objective
• looks at parts

Right brain thinking focuses on the following:

• random
• intuitive
• holistic
• synthesizing
• subjective
• looks at the whole picture/creative

In order to be more whole brained,we need to give equal weight to the arts, creativity and the skills of imagination in the synthesis.

Educators must form and develop new forms of assessment that honor right brained talents and skills as well.

We are all wired differently and possess different gifts in life. We simply need to honor our differences better than we do now.

Our value system is certainly tipped toward left brain thinking… what you doing today to be more whole brained in your approach?

5 Tools of Successful Families: #4. Grace

Law or grace?

That is the question…

How do you deal with your children and those around you when you’re angry, frustrated, tired, and burned out?…

Do you…

• YELL and raise your voice ?
• Play the martyr and do the silent treatment?
• Cuss and swear and scream?
• Dole out corporal punishment in the name of training ,control, and authority…

In other words, how to we use our authority?

When I talk about fathering, I think of how God the Father deals with me. And then I realize his kindness, patience, and love and see how short I fall as I deal with others…

God doesn’t always use a stick to beat us when we make mistakes… so why are we as fathers so quick to undress and apply the stick of punishment to those around us, especially our kids.

It’s okay to be angry, and it’s okay to not like injustice, disobedience, immaturity, and some of the zany things kids do in their selfishness.

But what gives you and me the right when we are tired and frustrated to dole out law in the spirit of anger. Our Lord never modeled that type of authoritarianism. He did everything in love, including correction, chastisement, teaching, and encouragement.

You and I as men need to relearn authority. We need to not get caught up in the disciplinarian model and playing the heavy, which is so common in our society. We need to learn the authority of Jesus, based in love, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control.

We need to relearn the father heart of God, and how that applies to our leadership and authority over those for whom we have responsibility. We must be intentional and incremental in learning this model, as it will transform our parenting, and indeed, our lives.

So, the next time you’re faced with someone’s shortcomings, or your own, for that matter, what’s going to be different?

Will it be grace or law?