Published on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month

Right-Brain Training - Practical Applications Part 1

Apr 2 2007, Mike Estep

Since I wrote my article on left-right brain training, many people have inquired what I would suggest or what I currently do to exercise more right-brained activities. During the next several articles, I will give suggestions from what I have done myself and what I teach my students based upon 38 years of performance and 21+ years of private instruction in music. Keep in mind that my teaching methods have included many years of contemplation and study in personal development, philosophy, and genius. I also use the best parts of my academic education.

In this article, I will discuss exercising and engaging intuitive feeling perceptions: These are the same types of perceptions we rely on before learning how to speak our native tongue. This includes the five senses (see, hear, touch, taste, smell), and emotion. When people drive cars they are using feeling perceptions more than intellectual perceptions. It is evident to see such perceptions when a person plays a musical instrument by ear, plays video games, plays organized sporting activities, or participates in certain martial arts training. However, we are not taught the importance of transferring these feeling perceptions over into every area of life, including intellectual and academic areas. It is important to understand that doing so is a matter of focus.

So, how does one begin to include these perceptions in their endeavors? One of the easiest ways is to GUESS. Yes, I said guess. Guess what the answers are to things – a lot. Regular guessing exercises intuitive processes. When guessing, a person should focus their awareness not only on intellectual information, but also on the previously mentioned feeling perceptions (five senses and emotion). This puts you more in touch with your primal self. When I say primal, don’t confuse this with primitive. There is absolutely nothing primitive about the processes I’m referring to. These feeling perceptions played a big part in the way Mozart, da Vinci, Einstein, Edison, Tesla, and others were able to display brilliance and genius.

We are led to believe in school that to assume is a bad thing (you know, it makes an ASS out of U and ME). However, the very act of assuming puts one in the position of guessing intuitively. Just consider this - intuitive guessing is like a muscle. If exercised properly and regularly, it develops into a consistent and accurate process. If ignored, it atrophies. Now, just because you guess at an answer does not mean that you have to tell everybody what is in your head or use all information gathered. Reserve these things for later when you become proficient. Until then, many people will not understand what you are doing.

The way a musician learns to play by ear is by guessing where notes are on an instrument - a lot. At first, the person guesses wrong. S/he listens to notes in a song on a CD and by trial-and-error tries to find them on the instrument. Over a period of weeks and months the guessing becomes more correct, which leads to finding desired notes in a shorter period of time. The musician begins to develop an intuitive feel of where things are and how things work with a high degree of accuracy. I have personally used this process now for over 38 years. I can listen to any piece of guitar music, regardless of the musical style, and find where the notes/chords are on the guitar with 90-100% accuracy depending on the quality of the recording. During the last 21+ years, it began to occur to me that this process could be, and should be, applied to every area of life.

With all of this guessing, I’m not trying to negate the importance of intellectual study or using the intellect. However, I have come to the conclusion that the intellect alone is too slow and impractical for most endeavors - including academics. As I discussed in my previous article, we are being taught left-brain activities in school, while virtually ignoring right-brain activities. I believe exercising mainly half of the brain leads to a form of mental decay. It is simply incorrect and even harmful to do so. Geniuses regularly exercise both halves of the brain. This is one of the reasons that the trait of genius exists.

In summation, a simple way of exercising your intuitive right-brain is to practice guessing a lot. Include your five senses and emotion - even in academic areas. With enough practice, the skills developed and information gathered will become increasingly accurate, dependable, and highly useful.