Staying in Balance by Nourishing Your Four Characters

How has it been for you to live your life knowing you have Four Characters inside of your brain? I’m curious about what you do to nourish each of your Four Characters, so you (and they) can stay mentally and emotionally healthy?

I use the BRAIN Huddle multiple times every day to keep myself in balance. I find that if any of my Four Characters are not being cared for, it is easy for them to either take the microphone and go crazy with it, or settle into the background and not participate. I find I do much better when I rotate between my Four Characters, so they all stay strong. Even my Character 2 is offered the mic in the event that she might need to vent. That little unhappy part of myself seems to appreciate the opportunity to be heard, even if she has nothing to say. Her pain is always welcome in my life, and in this way, I reflect and move through my pain quickly instead of in fits and starts.

I invite each of my Four Characters to call a BRAIN Huddle at least once a day. My Character 1 appreciates putting the Huddle on the schedule, as she enjoys the acknowledgment and praise from my other characters for a job well done. My Character 2 appreciates the opportunity to self-assess. My Character 3 is tickled to invite everyone into the conversation. And my Character 4 is simply filled with gratitude that we all exist in the same head, where we can each know and respect one another deeply.

What you do with this material is completely up to you. No one will remind you to call a BRAIN Huddle unless you empower your own Four Characters to make this a routine and a lifestyle. Remember that every ability we have is based on brain cells to perform that function. You can create order in your life because of the Left Thinking cells making up your Character 1, and you can express yourself innovatively because of the cells of your Right Emotional Character 3. You can reflect upon your trauma from the past because of the cells in your Left Emotional Character 2, and you can self-soothe that pain thanks to your Right Thinking Character 4.

You are the power of the universe with manual dexterity and four beautiful characters making up your emotional and cognitive minds. Fortunately, the more often we run a cellular circuit in our brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. This is why I call BRAIN Huddles routinely—so I have the ability to call the Huddle at any time, especially when my little Character 2 needs to express herself and be heard.

Each of your Four Characters has their own network of friends, colleagues, and family who likes them, loves them, relies on them, or avoids them. When you take the time to map out these dynamic networks for each of your Four Characters, your life will become much more predictable and manageable. For example, if my Character 1 needs support in getting something done, I am more inclined to call on folks who I know have a strong Character 1— unless I need someone to brainstorm new ideas with me. In that case, I’ll probably reach for those with a strong Character 4 and strong vision. And if I want to build something fun, you know I’ll be calling on my Character 3 dominant pals.

Knowing who you are and knowing the strengths of those around you makes life easier to navigate. And during these times of emotional and mental challenge, having a roadmap to peace can be a powerful tool. Peace really is just a thought away when you have mastered the BRAIN Huddle and your Four Characters.

Click here to download the steps to do a BRAIN Huddle.

From my brain to yours,
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

P.S. I had a fantastic interview on the Insidewink show called Helping You Understand Your Brain. I spoke about Whole Brain Living, how you can choose to not react to emotional triggers, what I do to protect my brain, and more. Watch this 12-minute video here. Bonus: it has great animations, too.