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Your brain is your greatest resource—use it by design to help you achieve health, happiness, and success!
—Arlene Taylor
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| Descriptions of frequently requested seminars are shown
below. Contact
Taylor directly to request information on other topics. |
Age-Proofing Your Memory
Your memory is critical to you. Without your memories and an ability to recall them, you would be unable to know who you are and what has happened to you in the past. You would not recognize your loved ones, dearest friends, or beloved pets. You would “forget” anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, your favorite things. Everything! Research studies are beginning to validate the full impact of what can be derived through challenging brain stimulation. Practically applied, this information may be able to help you strengthen some forms of memory and improve your recall. It is worth a shot but you are the only one who can do it for you!
Affirmation—the Power of Positive
Affirmation is the programming language of the subconscious and the most effective way to communicate with this portion of the human brain. The formula is simple: short, positive, present tense, unconditional, and empowering statements. Growing up, however, most people heard seven to nine negative comments for each positive one. With all that negative "programming," many never learned the art of affirmation. No wonder communication problems abound! Fortunately, it's never too late to get started. It just takes knowledge, commitment, and practice. Over time, affirmations can become just as powerful as negative statements used to be.
Age-Proof Your Brain!
Until recently, conventional wisdom said that our brains contained all the thinking cells (neurons) that it would ever possess. With the advent of state-of-the-art brain research, this belief has been overturned. Because of studies conducted toward the end of the 20th century we now know that new brain cells can be produced in the adult human brain. Equally exciting is the understanding that although not muscle tissue per se, neurons respond in much the same way as does muscle tissue. That is, neurons can become stronger with exercise and atrophy with disuse.
The Brain and Laughter—Laugh and Last
A spoonful of laughter makes the medicine go down! Is there anything to the old saying, laugh and last! Where does laughter reside in the brain? Can it really alter brain chemistry? Why does one person laugh when another doesn’t? Is there any evidence that laughter can improve one’s state of health? What’s the difference between having a keen sense of humor and laughter? Current research is providing answers to these questions and more. Studies show that laughter really is good medicine—good age-proofing medicine. It is also an anti-aging strategy, and it’s free!
The Brain and Music
More than 300 years ago the French composer François Couperin recommended that children should begin studying instruments by the age of 6 or 7. He was right! Is studying music for children only? No! It can be of benefit at any age. In fact, it may be the fastest way to build skills in all four chunks of the thinking brain or cerebrum. Music lessons offer the type of challenging stimulation that can retard and sometimes even prevent the onset of symptoms commonly associated with the aging process (e.g., senility). In other words, it's rarely too late to begin!
The Brain Program
Studies estimate that approximately two-thirds of adult Americans use their brains in energy-exhaustive ways. In addition studies have shown that managers spend an average of 19% of their time on employee-related problems. This is up 9% from a decade or two ago and is cause for concern in the business community because time is money. Matching employees with tasks that their brains do energy-efficiently can help to decrease presenteeism, absenteeism, turnover, and illness and enhance enthusiasm, accuracy, and productivity. The Brain Program is designed to help you to manage your energy more efficiently—and thrive.
Breaking Free from Old Behaviors
The brain is designed to create internal software programs. This enables you to engage in repetitive actions and routines and achieve consistent, predictable outcomes. Human beings often create internal software programs as a form of self-medication, to alter their brain’s chemical stew, much as a chef adds seasoning to alter the favor of food. Sometimes the software (habit) gets stuck, much like a needle on the old 45-records and escalates into an addictive behavior. Once the software program is created you may not be able to break the habit (short of destroying neurons); but you can learn strategies to help you create a bypass.
Cellular
Memory—Past, Present,
and Future
There are many different
types of memory. Cellular
memory, for example. It’s
a type of memory that cells
containing a nucleus are
believed to possess. Much
like you input numbers into
your cell phone so you can
do automatic dial, cellular
memory pushes you toward
exhibiting learned behaviors,
often as a subconscious
level. You do have a fair
amount of control over the
cellular memory you input,
at least in adulthood. An
increased understanding
can provide you with an
expanded framework of knowledge
within which to make healthy
personal and behavioral
choices—and then there
are organ transplants!
Communication—It's More Than Words!
Studies have shown that, if you are like most people, you spend 80% of your waking hours communicating. “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?” Often people expect the brains of others to function much the same as their own, and when they don’t they aren’t sure how to proceed. While you can’t make others listen, you can increase the odds that they will, and you can increase your communication effectiveness—by design.
Distress, Eustress, and Mistress
Stressed? Depressed? Know someone who is? Then this is for you! What has come to be known as “stress” encompasses at least three different types of stressors: distress, eustress, and mistress. It is also impacted by your own brain’s unique perception of each stressor. It’s actually your brain rather than your stomach that recognizes a stressor first. You can dramatically improve your life by learning to quickly identify a stressor and implementing the 20:80 rule.
EQ - Emotional Intelligence
Many people think of IQ when the word "intelligence" is mentioned. There are many different types of intelligences, however. One of these is Emotional Intelligence or EQ. In fact, it appears that EQ may be even more important to your overall success in life than IQ! The equation may actually be: IQ plus EQ equals SQ (your success quotient). You can learn to become emotionally intelligent and enhance all your relationships.
Family-of-Origin Work
Have you ever been startled by a behavior that seemed to pop out of nowhere or bewildered by unexpected overreaction? Perhaps you've been fascinated by whispers of family secrets during childhood or puzzled by the contribution of past events to present choices. According to Shakespeare, we're all players on the stage of life. Few get serious about defining the roles they play or evaluate the script they were handed a birth—or before. Family-of-origin strategies can assist in identifying hidden triggers and managing your present behaviors.
Five Gifts and a Lagniappe
Hear the word “holiday” and the word “stress” often follows in its wake. Any change in routine can be a stressor and holidays usually involve changes in routine. Because each brain is unique, your strategies for handling stressors need to work for you. Using the metaphor of gift giving, this seminar is designed to provide tips for handling holiday stressors more effectively. The strategies don’t cost a penny and can save you a mint. Give yourself five gifts and a lagniappe—now!
He Said-She Said-They Said—Gender in the Workplace
Studies reveal that managers spend an average of 19% of their time resolving communication glitches among employees. Male-female differences in the workplace can trigger many of these glitches. Does understanding these differences make them go away? No. But knowledge is power! An increased understanding offers you more options for any given situation. It can diminish a tendency to take things personally, reduce frustration, and improve relationships. It can enhance cross-gender communication and improve cross-gender teamwork.
How the Brain Learns Best
No one really knows how the brain learns. I wish we did! It could make life so much easier for everyone—parents, students, teachers, and you! Although science still sees through a glass darkly in terms of how the brain actually learns, it has uncovered how the brain naturally learns best. That knowledge is exhilarating because with some effort and innovation the educational process can be enhanced significantly for most students. You can also implement the strategies on an individual basis.
Male and Female Brains: Vision-Style and Hearing Differences
Did you know that males and females have different vision styles and their brains actually process human voices differently? These two areas are at the root of a great deal of gender heat and misunderstanding. Now you can develop new strategies for communicating more successfully with the opposite gender. Does this knowledge remove the differences? Hardly! But understanding more about underlying differences in brain function can reduce frustration and offer an opportunity for tweaking your behavior. It can also provide a great deal of light-hearted amusement!
Male-Female Differences
Some say, But we know all about male/female differences. Perhaps in the physical sense but not in the brain sense! Current research suggests we’ve actually known very little about the brain and gender uniqueness. Although as members of the same species we are more alike than we are different, there are key dissimilarities! The differences have been around for eons and show no signs of disappearing any time soon. Males and females are not from separate planets in outer space, sometimes it just seems that way. Understanding some of the key differences can enhance all your relationships and it can be fun!
Myths of Aging
Myths related to aging abound and many people unwittingly buy into them. Do so and you can develop Gerontophobia, the fear of aging, which can diminish the joy and satisfaction that can occur along with wise maturity. Current brain research related to the aging process has revealed facts that have overturned many of these myths. Older people are not all alike. Brains actually become more different from each other as they get older. The brain can develop new cells. If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to age—and many are denied that—the aging process can offer many “ups.” Golden opportunities can exist in those golden years!
Recover From Your Losses
Growing up most people learn how to acquire but not how to lose. The survivor syndrome differs dramatically from preparing for your own demise (e.g., Kubler-Ross model). Learn how to retain your memories without the sting of the emotional pain. Use the strategies presented in the Grief Recovery Pyramid to identify, grieve, and move beyond your losses
The Sensory Systems — a sense in time saves mine!
You communicate with the world and with others through the sensory systems: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. You probably also have a sensory preference that may differ from others in your family or workplace. The term, sensory preference refers to the type of sensory stimuli that registers most quickly and intensely within your brain. Generally you gravitate toward environments that acknowledge and reward your sensory preference. Identify your own sensory preference and learn strategies for enhancing relationships with those who have a different preference.
Thinking Styles Assessment
Taylor is licensed to provide, score, and interpret a premier thinking style assessment (BTSA) that can help you identify specifics about your brain’s unique advantage. Organizations have experienced the benefits of moving to higher level of success using whole brained teams. Students have reported experiencing higher levels of energy by matching careers to their brain function. Each participant receives a personalized feedback prepared by Dr. Taylor.
Upshift, Downshift, and About Shift
Your brain can be compared to an automatic transmission. When the going gets tough (e.g., situations of trauma, crisis, or any type of fear) your brain automatically downshifts to help you get through. This is a life-saving strategy but you always give something up to get something. You can learn how to minimize what you give up.
Use Your Brain for Success!
Only you can, because your brain is as unique as your thumb print. The way your brain functions determines the quality of your life! Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with an owner’s manual. Fortunately, current research is shedding new light on it. An increased understanding of the brain can help you to be more realistic in terms of relating to the brains of others and in developing strategies for relating to your own brain more effectively. And it can be fun! |
