Emotion only lasts in our bodies for about 90 seconds. After that, the physical reaction dissipates, UNLESS our cognitive brain kicks in and starts connecting our anger with past events.
Jill Bolte TaylorRead
We have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We can decide our identity and behavior at any given moment in life.
This quote emphasizes the idea that we are not merely products of our circumstances but possess the intrinsic power to shape our identity and actions consciously. Each moment presents an opportunity for us to choose how we wish to engage with the world, highlighting the responsibility and agency we hold in defining ourselves and our interactions with others.
Themes
ChoiceIdentityAgencySelf-DeterminationMoment
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one could use this quote to inspire the audience to take control of their lives.
More from Jill Bolte Taylor
All quotes →Unfortunately, as a society, we do not teach our children that they need to tend carefully the garden of their minds. Without structure, censorship, or discipline, our thoughts run rampant on automatic. Because we have not learned how to more carefully manage what goes on inside our brains, we remain vulnerable to not only what other people think about us, but also to advertising and/or political manipulation.
Jill Bolte TaylorRead
The better we understand the choices we have been making, either consciously or unconsciously, the more say we will have in the world we create. Neurocircuitry may be neurocircuitry, but we don't have to run on automatic.
Jill Bolte TaylorRead
Just like children, emotions heal when they are heard and validated.
Jill Bolte TaylorRead
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