Today we caught up with Helen Joy of Right Brain Genius. Helen helps people unlock their creativity and see things differently, tapping into greater potential in all their life.
Why am I passionate?
When I was 12 years of age, as I stepped up onto a tram in Adelaide, I had an out of body experience where I thought I was actually stepping up onto a grand stage about to talk about BALANCE! It was very strange and I didn't understand it at all. All I could do was believe that one day I would understand it.
It took me 20 more years before I did. I had enrolled in a Beginners Drawing Course but the day before we were due to start, it was cancelled. I was devastated, but this voice in my head said 'Go to the library' and so I did.
I walked straight to the Art section and ran my hands along the row of books. It was like someone was in the isle behind and pushed this book out at me. I opened the book to a random page and straight away read the word 'BALANCE'. OMG Flashback. I knew this book was going to change my life.
For the next 3 months I taught myself to draw from Betty Edwards Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book. I then became a volunteer at my daughters grade 6 Art Class. I was mostly washing paint brushes and handing out paper. Just being a general helper.
Then one day the teacher was teaching them how to draw a bird. I said to her 'That's really left brained'. She didn't understand so I explained, 'That's a symbol of a bird. Symbols come from the left side of the brain' and I asked her if she was going to teach them how to draw that bird out in the tree?
She had no idea how to do that and so I offered to teach them how to really draw. To draw what they see.
I ended up teaching two classes, a total of 60 students. And I taught every one of them the skill of how to draw. It was amazing. I had no idea what was going to happen but there were quite a few troubled kids in those classes who had been labelled with ADHD or Asperger syndrome. Those were the kids that other kids didn't have time for but this suddenly changed because it was those troubled kids who 'got' what I was teaching them. They were really good at it and the other kids were inspired which gave them confidence.
But it was when some of those kids' parents began to ask if I could also teach them that my life really changed.
I really didn't believe it was right to go to the library and then teach that author's work, so I sought Betty Edward's permission to do so. She wrote back to me saying, the reason she wrote Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was she felt it was every person's right to be able to express themselves creatively. So she gave me her blessing to teach as many people as I could. I am very grateful to Betty Edwards and recommend her book to everyone.
I have now been teaching Right Brain Genius for fifteen years with the most astounding results. The best thing about teaching this course is that I never know what is going to happen to someone and it is always profound and amazing.
Something happens when you unlock the right side of your brain. I really do not understand why it is not promoted in schools and life in general. But it isn't. Instead we live in a left brained world where Stress, Anxiety, Depression and even suicide are prolific.
I guess I am on a mission to teach as many people as I can, not for my own financial purposes but to be a part of changing our world to be a better place.
Why should people attend?
Anyone from the age of 9-99 should attend my course so they can use more of their brain. Use the right side in balance with the left. They learn how to see differently. Not only what they are drawing but life in general. Learning to draw is a form of mindfulness or active meditation and it has profound effects on people's lives.
What personal traits do I offer?
I care about people and believe everyone goes through different stuff throughout their life at different times. I'm a great listener and try to keep the classes light and entertaining. I don't expect anyone to tell me their personal stuff. I don't need to know for them to heal.
What experience do I create?
Because most people are left brain dominant, they walk out of each class feeling very different to how they walked in. They feel more relaxed and even excited to learn more next week.
What am I looking forward to most?
Bring joy to people's lives