The ego, or our sense of being an individual "I," is not just a psychological construct. Neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor explains it is a function performed by a specific group of cells in the left hemisphere. Her stroke temporarily shut these cells down, causing her sense of self to dissolve.

Society prioritizes the left brain's focus on the individual "me," logic, and social norms. This creates an imbalance, neglecting the right brain's capacity for connection and presence. This neurological imbalance contributes to widespread issues like individualism and unhappiness.

Experiments on patients with a severed corpus callosum show that one brain hemisphere can be instructed to perform an action (e.g., 'walk over there') without the other's knowledge. When asked why they did it, the other hemisphere invents a plausible but false reason ('I wanted some air'). This suggests our rational self is often a post-hoc confabulator.

The stroke that wiped out Dr. Bolte-Taylor's left hemisphere, the seat of ego and linear goals, was ultimately liberating. It freed her from the confines of societal expectations and the pressure of "climbing the Harvard ladder," revealing a more profound, connected existence.

According to neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor, the brain's left emotional system stores past pain, trauma, and addiction. This isn't a flaw; it's a protective mechanism designed to trigger reactions based on past negative events. Healing involves understanding this system, not erasing it.

Modern life, with its focus on work and technology, overstimulates the analytical left hemisphere ('how' and 'what'). This neglects the right hemisphere, which processes the 'why' questions of love, mystery, and meaning. Finding purpose requires intentionally engaging in right-brain activities.

The human brain defaults to an energy-saving 'autopilot' mode for predictable routines, like a daily commute. This causes you to be mentally absent and miss large portions of your life. Introducing novelty and unpredictable experiences is crucial because it forces your brain to disengage autopilot and become present and focused.

The right hemisphere of the brain doesn't define a separate "you." It experiences the world as a unified whole, integrating all sensory input into one big picture. This is the neurological basis for "flow states" or feelings of transcendence, where the boundary between self and the world dissolves.

By selectively blocking light from the outer part of your visual field, you can preferentially stimulate the opposite brain hemisphere. Blocking the right eye's lateral vision stimulates the left hemisphere (focus), while blocking the left eye's lateral vision stimulates the right (relaxation).