Now we are jumping over to the right side of the brain; keep in mind the differences between the right and left hemisphere, which I explained earlier. The fact that this side of the brain displays more emotion is probably most notable when discussing the posterior right portion. I very much admire those in society with this BQD. They are so gifted in creating the harmonious bonds that hold us together. When anyone is working to create harmony in anything, we are using this portion of the brain.

When working to harmonize things in our lives, this is the portion of the brain that is highly active; therefore, people who have this BQD will be gifted at displaying and creating harmony and connectedness in life. This can be with everything from the furniture in their house, to the people in their lives. They make great interior decorators and awesome party planners; they will look for any opportunity to be with people and are often the ones creating events to bring people together. These gifts also cause them to be great peacekeepers and caregivers; they are the ones that can handle situations that would drive the other 75% of the population crazy. Due to their innate abilities in harmonizing and caregiving, they thrive in care-giving positions, from child to animal.

Because they are so connected to people they make great counselors. They can truly feel what the other person is experiencing and are patient enough to listen to all of the stories. They truly have a deep desire to help people and this makes them exceptional in this field. They can, however, get too emotionally involved with those they are trying to help. Therefore, they need to exercise caution so they don’t take on the emotional weight of the people they are working with.

Housed in the posterior right section of the brain is the center for music; when any one is listening to music this is the primary portion that fires up. It is interesting to note that, when scanned, multiple regions of the brain fire up if a person has had formal musical training to the point where they can read music, and have also gained training in things like music theory. But, the natural music talent is closely connected to this BQD. These are the individuals that can listen to a piece of music, then pick up a musical instrument and play the piece with apparent ease. They may often be seen or heard singing or humming to themselves; music is always playing in their heads. This also causes them to have very rhythmic speech and actions.

It is also interesting to note that the meaning of words is connected to this part of the posterior right portion of the brain. When asked to explain the meaning of words, areas of this part of the brain light up. So, this BQD is particularly gifted in understanding the meaning of words.

The portion of the brain that attaches spiritual meaning to things is in this brain quadrant. This doesn’t only mean connection to a higher power, but also, seeking the spiritual meaning in nature, poetry, or life in general.

Drama is also closely connected to this BQD. Therefore, those gifted in this area will display more dramatic emotion in their speech and actions. They may be the ones that cry at every movie or story. They are the hopeless romantics and their life choices will reflect that. The books they read and the shows they watch tend to lean towards the romance in life and literature.

Connection and harmony with nature seem to have a strong “lighting up” in this quadrant as well. So, individuals with this BQD will have a real connection to all things in nature. They will often LOVE animals and find peace and harmony in nature on a really deep level. It will be natural for them.

Based on the functions that are processed in this portion of the brain, I have created a detailed list of personality traits that will tend to be dominant in a person who has an energy expenditure advantage here. Familiarize yourself with the list, think of people you know that have these traits and tend to be gifted in doing the functions listed below. The more you get this list locked in your brain, the easier it will be for you to sit and do a consultation with a person and, after asking a few specific questions, identify what their BQD may be.

• Specialize in peacekeeping, harmony and connectedness.
• Sentimental about things and people. Sensitive.
• In tune with nature.
• They love animals-all kinds.
• Enjoy get-togethers and like to celebrate anything and everything.
• Likes to be with people. Generally social. Needs others.
• Memory is based on emotions and feelings, rather than facts.
• Takes in information via touch.
• Efficient at nonverbal communication. Facial expressions and eye contact are important.
• Emotional and rhythmic speech.
• Good at connecting bounded shapes.
• Very dramatic. Great acting ability.
• Enjoys reading romance novels, poetry, biographies, and animal stories.
• Good at counseling.
• Natural interior decorating gift.
• Enjoys nursing or caregiving type roles. Loves children and child care.
• Has a warm home, family pictures, plants, candles, stuffed animals, happy things.
• Does not possess a great feel for money. “If I have checks, I must have money.”
• Is a people pleaser. Has a hard time saying no. Wants everyone to be happy.
• Is okay with change, primarily to please others.
• Will avoid conflict as much as possible.
• Finds it difficult to make decisions. Does not like to tell others what to do.
• Assigns spiritual meaning to experiences.
• Has natural musical ability, enjoys dancing.
• Enjoys crafting.
• Likes to go mall shopping for no reason, just for the experience.
• Feels deeply for people and things.
• Very sensitive to criticism.
• Gifted in music, spontaneous playing of musical instruments.

Based on their brain strengths they most likely excelled in the following subjects in school:

• Music
• Foreign languages
• Counseling
• Drama
• Home Economics
• Organizing school functions, i.e.: dances

As with the left brain BQDs, for each of the main quadrants there will always be negative terms, labels, or words that are used to describe them. Part of the beauty of understanding all of this scientific information is that it allows us to look to the reason why people do what they do, and resist the desire to use these terms. Nevertheless, if you, or a person you are working with, feel that this may be how you/they are described, then it is another clue that this may be your/their BQD.

Negative terms used to describe this BQD might be:

• Emotional
• Cry-Baby
• Push-Over
• Too Sentimental
• Hoarder
• Drama King/Queen

As with the left hemisphere, asking questions about your childhood, or the childhood of the person you are working with, can help you determine your/their natural giftedness. Sometimes ones innate BQD could have been suppressed early on due to pressures in childhood and birth order, factors that I will cover in more detail in a later unit. But, for now, here is a list of characteristics that may indicate a natural BQD in this portion of the brain.

• Is a pleaser. Wants everyone to be happy.
• Gifted in music, spontaneous playing of musical instruments.
• Enjoys being told stories of animals or people.
• Is very fond of all animals.
• Generally social. Needs others.
• Enjoys playing dress up, pretending, roll playing.
• Wants to touch and be touched.
• Needs and thrives on affirmations.
• Always wants to play with other children.
• Will talk, talk, talk.
• Very sensitive to non-verbal cues.

If you are coaching or consulting a person with this BQD, and the subject of work or career is something that you are discussing, you will want to help them lean towards work that matches their brain. Choices that would be best are ones that allow them to harmonize bounded shapes; or, that allows them to use their gifts in caregiving; or, their natural musical and dramatic talents.  For example:

• Counseling. This brain quadrant is gifted at truly connecting with the feelings of the people they interact with. They make great counselors because they can truly empathize with their clients or patients.
• Interior decorating. Their amazing skill in connecting bounded shapes allows them to harmonize items within a home.
• Nursing. While there are places for all of the brain quadrants in this field, the caregiving skills we identify with nurses are innate to this quadrant; making them able to handle the most emotionally intense nursing care.
• Childcare. Remember, this is the quadrant that is connected to people, animals and nature. So, careers that need these skills are a natural for this BQD.
• Volunteer activities. Again, this is the caregiving, hard-to-say-no portion of the brain, so they will often enjoy volunteering to help out wherever they can.
• Party planner. Between their harmonizing skills, their love for people, and their desire to connect with them at every opportunity, this is a great career for this BQD.
• Story writer. When writing requires an emotional story type angle this BQD excels.
• Pediatrician. Again, our connection to nature and children comes from this portion of the brain, so individuals that are gifted at spending the least amount of energy here will excel in this work.
• Public Relations. This type of work requires making people happy and harmonizing different personalities.

As with the other BQDs, it is equally important to understand that, from an energy expenditure point of view, the diagonally opposite portion of the brain will be the most energy intensive part to work out of. This means that, for this BQD, the tasks that use the anterior left portion of the brain will consume large amounts of energy. They will find it challenging to process functions that are connected with the Boss personality. Spending too much time in the diagonally opposite quadrant will lead to high energy expenditure and brain exhaustion. Functions like fact-based problem-solving or delegating authority will be very labor intensive for them. They may also find it challenging to interact with individuals who are gifted in the anterior left quadrant.

While you will never want to spend too much time outside of your BQD, it is necessary in life to use all of our brain at one time or another. There may be situations when you, or someone you are working with or coaching, need to develop some competencies in this portion of the brain. After all, if you have to do caregiving tasks or perform some harmonizing work with key people in your life, you will need to use this brain quadrant. Listed below are a few things that you, or the person you are coaching, can get involved in or do that will help build those necessary skills in the Nurturer portion of your brain.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it gives you an idea of where to start.

• Play games just for fun. Resist the urge to win and just enjoy the experience.
• Study drama or music. Remember, the home of music is housed in this quadrant; so, every time you work at learning a musical instrument or get involved in dramatic endeavors you will be actively using this portion.
• Plan a fun get-together event with no purpose or goal. Again, this will exercise the harmony gifts in this quadrant. Try not to create an itinerary or schedule for the event, just enjoy the experience.
• Draw or paint a landscape. Give it a try; you may really enjoy it, even if it is short lived.

Validation is vitally important for all BQD’s. If you feel that you are, or you know someone who fits into, this BQD, realize that the traits present in your/their personality that are due to this being your/their brain energy expenditure advantage. These are your/their innate gifts–not shortcomings. Honor your/their need to have harmony in your/their life, and your/their dramatic gifts. Allow yourself/them to display emotions freely and without criticism.

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