Have you considered how asking and responding to questions, reveals the state of your brain. How so?
1. Take your amygdala – or seat of emotions. An amygdala for the jubilant person is that tiny sac of neurons that remains open to wonder most of the time. If yours rarely overheats, it triggers delight as an emotional pattern passed to others. How could you questions in ways that tame another person’s amygdala by adding supports and curiosity-builders?
2. Your cortisol withholds its dangerous toxins from people who laugh and play. Imagine team meetings that motivate new mental approaches for team solutions. Questions from a person fueled more by cortisol, on the other hand, will likely be cynical or critical. Cortisol fueled questions tend to focus on fault finding rather than solution-driving.
3. Your neuron pathways create habitual synapses for jubilation to reshape moods for those who favor fun over frowning. Can you see how each step toward a new possibility also shapes novel questions that bring about positive change, and motivate support?
4. Plasticity rewires the playful brain nightly for further joyful responses. Deep seated contentment finds novel opportunities to prosper, by simply doing what you want others to see in you. Questions become that playful segue into change that reboots plasticity a finer outcome.
5. Dendrite brain cells connect positivity to positivity for those who celebrate mental rejuvenation – from stagnation to curiosity. Practice one positive act and watch chemical and electrical activity reboot you mentally to question for further regeneration.
6. Basal ganglia defaults to playful habits, replays celebratory practices and routinely laughs at the little things with those who rejoice more. Questions stated by folks who run from change will likely be more traditional and will elicit familiar responses.
7. Working memory keeps you focused on new facts that build concrete solutions worth celebrating. Your working memory tools spring into action to ask unexpected questions that lead to solving complex problems in innovative ways.
8. Brain chemicals refuel positive moods, increase natural drugs for well being, and add hormones for humor and play. Serotonin, sometimes referred as molecule of happiness, stirs up chemicals to win. Questions tend to shape according to brain chemicals emitted.
9. Serotonin spikes sincere satisfaction, and a healthy sense of confidence in those who capitalize on celebration. Questions fueled by more serotonin will be encouraging and will open possibilities.
10. Brainwaves organize by a hierarchy, control neuron communications and alter the brain’s circuitry. Celebrate positive tone for circuitry that builds goodwill even in war zones, and questions will reflect peace and generosity rather than blame or violence. Yes, even among those who disagree with you.
Imagine teaching teens and coaching young adults to lead with questions – across both sides of the brain.
See further facts about brainpower in two-footed questions at:
1). John Hopkins University:
2). Stanford University:
Let’s teach these whole brain questioning tools at secondary, college and beyond. Two-footed questions help us form teams, complete projects, test prep, raise character, write well, interview peers and experts, and analyze.