A few years ago, I saw a TED talk by Jill Bolte Taylor. A neuroanatomist, she describes watching her brain and body as she experienced a stroke while in her thirties. It was fascinating, and I read her book, ‘A Stroke of Insight’ and found it to be one of the most inspiring accounts I have ever read. She describes her long recovery processs, aided by her family to regain basic reading, writing and memory skills. By experiencing the right and left brain functions separately, she felt deep appreciation for both parts of the brain and how they function together. She also was able to see patterns that were habitual that no longer served her. When a response came up that she no longer wanted, she thanked her body with appreciation for trying to protect her, but she no longer needed to function that way. Slowly, she built new neuropathways that did serve her new way of thinking and feeling. One of the things she learned from experiencing the stoke was blissful feeling generated from the right brain, a feeling of love and oneness in the universe. She greatly respected the left brain’s need to function, organize, and protect the body but some of those behaviors she no longer needed.
I have experienced bouts of anxiety in my life and have been searching for ways to decrease this feeling when it arises. Inspired by Jill Bolte Taylor’s account, I realized that many fears I have are not realistic and I certainly don’t need or want them in my life. So what to do? Begin building new neuropathways of love. Anytime fear or anxiety crop up, I can recognize my body’s need to protect me and gently tell myself that I appreciate this protection, but it is no longer needed. I can fill this anxiety with love. I am safe. In meditation, I breathe in love and breathe out love. Love fills my being with each breathe and soon there is no need for anxiety. I am Love.
I have experienced bouts of anxiety in my life and have been searching for ways to decrease this feeling when it arises. Inspired by Jill Bolte Taylor’s account, I realized that many fears I have are not realistic and I certainly don’t need or want them in my life. So what to do? Begin building new neuropathways of love. Anytime fear or anxiety crop up, I can recognize my body’s need to protect me and gently tell myself that I appreciate this protection, but it is no longer needed. I can fill this anxiety with love. I am safe. In meditation, I breathe in love and breathe out love. Love fills my being with each breathe and soon there is no need for anxiety. I am Love.