We love tales of heroism and miracles. The story of the neuroscientist, Jill Bolte Taylor, certainly inspires all of us. At age 37 this woman, an expert in the workings of the brain, experienced a stroke. With her background Jill understood in detail what was happening to her as she lived it.
Her book My Stroke of Insight[1], written after her recovery conveys such a miraculous tale!
Jill lost much major functioning—walking, talking, eating and much more. Over many years this heroine was able to regain her health and to live a full, able-bodied life.
In the book Dr Taylor tells us that early in the healing process her physician had predicted whatever she could not regain in six months would be gone forever. Ha! In living this amazing adventure this star reclaimed function after more than 10 years from her brain event!
Toward the end of the book Jill articulated some of the attitudes and methods which she discovered as part of this remarkable recovery. These insights track with the formulations often articulated in this blog. Please review[2]:
- Appreciate and feel gratitude as much as possible through the day.
- Applaud and underscore every positive step of progress.
- Surround yourself with supportive individuals whose presence soothe and nourish you.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Pay attention to your flow of energy, rest frequently and as you need it.
- Relish your senses. Enjoy and feel into the sensuous details of being in your body.
- Take charge of what thoughts you think and which emotions flow in your being.
Let’s acknowledge that observing these suggestions will take repeated practice. In her state of damaged brain this scientist felt acutely the effects of various forms of negative thinking. To heal, J realized she could choose what ran in her brain, and she steered toward uplifting thinking as a key strategy both for her recovery and to enjoy her life as a fully functioning being.
Here Dr Taylor inspires us to pause and appreciate our sensual experiences with more depth and presence. These ways of being, healing and growing represented essential components to facilitate this miraculous recovery.
If these tools worked well for someone in such need, they will work just as well for those of us already relatively well.
Have stories of recovery you want to share? Want to experiment with these tools and report back? Please comment. We humans are so awesome in what we can do!
Janet Pearlman is a spiritual teacher, counselor, healer and artist. These posts demonstrate everyday applications of the path to greater self knowledge and mastery. Opportunities for greater empowerment abound in the moments of our lives. As we all go for operating from a centered and loving space, we are creating a world where peace can prevail. In her forty-six year journey of self-discovery, Janet has deeply studied the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, Ernest Holmes, Inayat Khan and more. Janet offers individual sessions by phone and in person. Please contact her at jpearl555@earthink.net to arrange an appointment.
[1] Taylor, Jill Bolte, My Stroke of Insight, (New York: Penguin Group, 2008)
[2] Taylor, Jill Bolte, My Stroke of Insight, (New York: Penguin Group, 2008)