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Hello! Usually a child by the age of four is determined with the leading hand. And if earlier he tried to do something or hold each of them, then from this age you can safely say whether he is right-handed or left-handed.
But there are people who masterfully own what is with one hand, what is with the other. It is believed that their mental abilities are an order of magnitude higher than an ordinary person, since the brain has to constantly be in good shape and creatively adapt to different tasks. They make up one percent of the world’s population, just imagine how few such «universal» people are. And today we will learn how to become an ambidexter to join their ranks.
Advantages and disadvantages
The choice of a more active hand occurs due to the asymmetry of the work of the hemispheres. For example, the left half of the brain is responsible for logic, information processing. It helps to competently, beautifully speak and learn foreign languages. The principle of asymmetry is that which governs the right side of the body. But the right hemisphere is the left side and helps us create, come up with extraordinary ideas and be creative.
Have you noticed that there are a lot more right-handed people around you? That is, those who prefer logic to freedom of thought. Perhaps, in addition to innate characteristics, this may also be due to the fact that most often a child from childhood is taught to think, solve problems, instead of expressing himself, creating and doing something unusual. Previously, in general, left-handers were retrained, forcing them to take a pen in another, «socially approved hand.»
In 1903, John Jackson, teaching at a grammar school, decided to stop the oppression of left-handers. He created in Northern Ireland, namely in Belfast, an ambidextrous society. John argued that if you train, you can achieve tremendous changes. For example, learn how to play the piano or guitar and write a letter to a loved one at the same time. And equally well concentrating on two completely different tasks.
But not everything is as beautiful as it seems at first glance. In addition to significant benefits, ambidexterity can also have negative consequences. Therefore, before you start training, carefully weigh the pros and cons.
So, the pros:
- The efficiency of work increases, respectively, a person copes with the tasks set faster and achieves success.
- It becomes possible to perform diverse work.
- Intuition improves, sensitivity increases.
- The power of will grows stronger.
- The situation is assessed faster and from different angles, and not one-sidedly and so on.
Cons:
- Headaches may occur due to the increase in the amount of incoming information.
- Over time, concentration decreases, also due to stress.
- There may be confusion and fatigue.
ambisinistra
Ambisinisters are not able to control well with both hands. They are the exact opposite of ambidexters. Such “curvature” is either congenital or acquired. Not only did a person forget how to do something, but, for example, after a serious illness, he lost his sensitivity. Survived an accident, got injured.
And then the ambisinistra has no choice whether to develop or not, they have to perform exercises in order to regain power over their hands. To finally get a satisfactory result of their actions. And in some cases with good motivation and willpower — not just satisfactory, but the best.
Exercises
Primary School
Remember how difficult it was in the first grade to give all sorts of letters and sticks? But as time passed, I managed to master the letter, that now you don’t even have to think in which direction to lead the pen. Here, almost the same path will have to be done in relation to the other hand.
Start with prescriptions. It is not necessary to buy notebooks for first-graders, draw a sheet for yourself and write each letter in several lines. Try to draw and trace already finished drawings.
I think it is not worth reminding that this must be done daily so as not to lose only the acquired skill.
Functionality
Use your non-dominant hand as much as possible in daily work. Are you used to brushing your teeth with your right? Now you have to adapt. Fasten buttons, zippers, clean your shoes, comb your hair and make your bed a little differently now.
Most importantly, do not start training with dangerous tasks. For example, peel potatoes or cut bread as you normally would. Until you make sure that you really become ambidexter, otherwise injuries cannot be avoided.
Disable «autopilot»
Yes, you will have to make changes in your life, not partially, but completely. Therefore, the right-hander will have to not only train to write with the left, but even go to work the wrong way, as he used to.
Analyze in what situations you perform actions completely thoughtlessly, as they say, “on autopilot”? Analyzed? Now start developing and helping to form new neural connections in the brain — do everything differently than usual to add awareness to your actions.
Films
Do you think it is possible to become ambidexterous just by watching foreign films? Even as, under one condition that they will be with subtitles. So a person will unconsciously correlate the words spoken by the actors with the literal translation.
That is, listen and read at the same time, plus process the information received in order to capture the essence of the picture and remember some events taking place in it. Make assumptions about the behavior of the characters and anticipate the development of events. For example, guessing who the killer is.
Simultaneity
Take a pencil in both hands and try to draw a circle with one and a square with the other. No pauses, just take it and get to work. It may not work the first time, but if you persevere, you will soon be able to notice how it turns out to perform different tasks better and better.
Or another version of this task, stroke your head with one hand, and pat your stomach with the other. When it starts to work out, change them and start over.
Sport
Work out in the gym, paying more attention to your non-dominant hand. This will correct the difference. And then both your hands will be equally strong and flexible.
As often as possible, use carpal expanders, dumbbells. Just start with a minimum load, gradually increasing it.
Completion
Did you know that such popular personalities as Tom Cruise, Maria Sharapova, Till Lindemann, a member of the Rammstein group and even Nikola Tesla are ambidexters? Perhaps it was this peculiarity of thinking that helped each of them achieve such tangible results, success? And who does not want to be like Gaius Julius Caesar, who could do many different things at the same time?
So, use the tips given in the article to unlock your potential. Just be patient, because every person is different. And if someone manages to feel the first victory in a few months, then at the same pace of training, it will take another person a year.
Work out at your own comfortable rhythm so as not to add stress to the body, which is enough in everyday life.
So we wish you success and achievements! And if you know other interesting ways to develop ambidexterity, share them in the comments.
We also recommend reading an article about the development of your associative thinking.
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina