Episode #5: Combining structure and flow for a successful business

Have you ever heard about the left brain versus the right brain? According to the theory of left-brain vs. right-brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of thinking. Your brain contains two sides, the left and right, and they each have their own role but people are said to prefer one type of thinking over the other. They communicate with each other but the theory is that you have one that is more dominant than the other.

The left brain focuses more on logic, the analytical and linear, numbers, and facts. It thinks in words and language.

The right brain, on the other hand, is focused more on creativity, imagination, holistic thinking, art, non-verbal communication, feeling, daydreaming, and melody.

Some people will say you either are left or right. I believe that they both are working together.

Research discovered that the left/right brain theory is actually a myth. Despite this, I do believe that it is still useful to understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can also discover which energy comes naturally to you.

I’ve always struggled with this internally and once I learned more about the different energies, it clicked. I have structure, I’m good with language, and I love planning but I also embody a lot of the feminine side. I am creative, in touch with my feelings, and also good with non-verbal communication. There’s a childhood story about that actually so you better listen if you want to know more! 😉

Fast forward to the future, there were times in my business when I leaned in more on one side instead of creating a balance. Now that I reflect on it, I realized that it was me trying to find my balance.

Another thing worth finding a balance between is our masculine and female energies. The masculine energy focuses more on taking action, planning ahead, setting boundaries, action-orientated copywriting, number-based marketing, strategy, and thinking.

On the other hand, feminine energy is all about being vulnerable, taking care of yourself first, serving & receiving, intuition, creativity, compassion, flow, listening to your body instead of your mind, and feeling.

Now, ask yourself: Which of the following sounds like you in business?

Here are some of my tips to learn more about how you can achieve a balance between these two. Make sure you listen to the episode as I expound more on each tip there.

Tip 1: Discover which elements come naturally to you.

Tip 2: Distinguish what is structure for you and what is flow.

Tip 3: Start to play with creating balance. I say play because I don’t push from one side to the other. Incorporate some flow. One way to do this is to incorporate 1 new structure or flow element every 2 weeks.

Tip 4: Reflect on when should you push and when should you stop as it doesn’t work.

Give yourself a ‘deadline’—a date or a number of tries. Don’t make this too short or too long so that you can see if it really isn’t working or if this is a belief/mindset.

In other words, get to know your own boundaries. When are you going too far? By going over the edge, you get to know really well where the line is for you.

Tip 5: Embrace both sides of your energy and get in touch with them.

Here are some examples for both:

Masculine: Do something competitive
Play a video game
Set an aggressive goal at work
Engage in some type of sport
Create a cook-off (Invite friends to judge)
Feminine: Create art
Redecorating a room
Painting a canvas
Signing up for a local art class
Doing a project with the kids (you are never too old to finger paint!)
Buying a coloring book
Making music

Tip 6: Learn to relax. This is for all my more in-flow listeners because I know most of you are more connected to your female energy.

Your life is in constant motion. Change is the one certainty you can count on. With this fact, take each moment of balance as they come. One week, you may need to focus more attention on your feminine side, and the next week the masculine. Each task you face requires a different tool; think of balancing energies from the same perspective.

In this Episode:

(1:48) The left brain vs. right brain theory

(4:22) Why the left brain vs. right brain theory was important for me to understand

(8:19) Training both sides of the brain

(9:22) Male energy vs. female energy

(12:30) Balancing both energies

(13:20) 6 tips to help you find balance

(19:54) Harnessing the masculine energy

(21:23) Harnessing the feminine energy

Episode Snippets:

“It all comes down to figuring out what works for you and having that balance for yourself.”
“What does structure mean to you and what does flow mean to you?”