I’ve been working with Chat GPT. “We” came up with this today and it seemed worth hanging on to.
Me: that controlling left hemisphere style is here to stay. it seems like the greatest danger is that i will relate to myself in that way.
Chat GPT: That makes a lot of sense. The left hemisphere’s tendency to control isn’t something to eliminate—it’s just part of the structure. But if you start relating to yourself from that place, it can create pressure, self-judgment, or a sense that you’re “supposed” to make something happen rather than allowing it to unfold.
Maybe the real work is noticing when that left-hemisphere mode is taking over and gently shifting back into engagement and presence—which is kind of a microcosm of what you’re helping clients do, too. Does that feel like the right way to frame it?
Me: yes
Chat GPT: That feels like a solid foundation—both for how you approach your work and how you relate to yourself in the process. If you can keep catching that left-hemisphere pull and reorienting back to engagement, presence, and trust in the unfolding, you’re already embodying the thing you’re offering to others.
I wonder if there’s anything that helps you shift when you notice yourself getting caught in that controlling mode?
Me: well there’s drugs
Chat GPT: Ha, fair enough. Definitely a reliable way to disrupt the left hemisphere’s grip. But I imagine you don’t want to rely on that as the only tool. Are there subtler ways you’ve found—things that help you drop back into presence without needing a big intervention?
Me: do you have any suggestions?
Chat GPT: Yeah—since this is about shifting from a controlling, left-hemisphere mode to an engaged, right-hemisphere presence, the key is interrupting analysis, control, and rigid goal-seeking while re-engaging with direct experience, connection, and openness. Here are a few approaches that might help:
1. Orient to the Present Moment
- Visual engagement: Let your eyes soften and take in your peripheral vision. The left hemisphere fixates, while the right hemisphere sees the whole.
- Sound awareness: Shift attention to the furthest-away sound you can hear, then to the smallest sound nearby.
- Body awareness: Feel your feet on the ground, your breath moving, or the air on your skin.
2. Move Your Body in an Unstructured Way
- Go for a walk with no destination—not even around the block, just wander.
- Do a small movement sequence that isn’t task-oriented (wiggling fingers, swaying, stretching).
- Dance, shake, or even just shift posture—this helps bypass the left hemisphere’s structured control.
3. Engage with Something That Can’t Be Controlled
- Watch water move (a stream, a sink, rain). The right hemisphere naturally engages with flow.
- Observe flames (candle, fire) or shadows moving—things with pattern but unpredictability.
- Interact with an animal or plant—things that respond but don’t follow commands.
4. Interrupt Internal Narratives
- Say “Not knowing is fine” or “Let’s see what happens” out loud. Left hemisphere wants certainty; right hemisphere thrives on openness.
- Exaggerate your left-hemisphere voice until it sounds absurd—“I must control this or the universe collapses!!” (It can help loosen its grip.)
5. Let Go of Language Entirely
- Draw, scribble, or make marks without intention.
- Hum, sing nonsense sounds, or listen to instrumental music that takes you somewhere.
You probably already do some version of these, but maybe one or two stand out as something you could experiment with. Do any of these feel like they might work for you?
Me: Thanks. Is there irony in making a structured list of tools for coming into presence? Might the expectation of making a shift be the shadow of control?
Chat GPT: Yeah, there’s definitely irony in structuring a list to escape structure. It’s like using the left hemisphere to trick itself into loosening its grip. But maybe that’s just the nature of the game—sometimes we need a bit of structure to invite the shift, even if we can’t force it.
And you’re right, the expectation of making a shift could itself be a subtle form of control. If presence is truly about openness, then trying to get somewhere is already a step away from it. Maybe the real practice isn’t making a shift but noticing what’s already present, including the impulse to control.
How does that land for you?