There’s creativity on the left!

As the fingers of one hand are not all the same, human beings are also born to be different from one another. They are distinguished by their individual differences and psychological characteristics, which are included in cognitive, effective, behavioural and genetic traits attributed to human beings and animals alike. However, some people spend much of their time trying to fit in and be like everyone else! Unfortunately, they undervalue their difference while being unaware of their real strengths and uniqueness.

Such a difference reflects each person's unique intelligence, personality traits, and values, which are neither a fiction nor a worry. They only contribute to shaping one’s behaviours and self-importance in life. One of the key observable individual differences that have been remarkably prominent worldwide between humans is whether one is a right or left-handed. Based on a stereotype, some people tend to look at lefties differently, who look abnormal to them as all others are right-handed! Using a left hand while writing, using a knife or holding something else seems awkward to the righties.

Historically, the left-handedness is often considered a bad omen and associated with evil in some cultures and countries. Whether a person favours a right hand or the left one and what this reveals about the brain function has been studied for many years. In the past, children who were naturally born left-handed were encouraged or even forced to use their right hand. Mainly, this was because of prejudice against the awkwardness of left-handed writing and the dominance of ‘right-handed’ instruments.

Though lefties experience distinct challenges, benefits, and quirks of daily life that most right-handed people usually never even consider, many of the creative people are left-handed. Throughout the centuries, most of the celebrated thinkers and artists have been lefties. From Aristotle, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates to Oprah Winfrey, the world would be a very a different place without the numerous notable lefties. The lengthy list of artistic lefties and strong connection lefties have to the right side of the brain, which is linked to creativity, has reinforced the idea that lefties are more creative.

Therefore, if one has a naturally left-handed child, he/she should not be forced to use the right hand instead. While we know very little about what influences hand preference, we do know that handedness reflects the connection of the individual brain. It is attributed that babies, at a certain time while in the womb, show a clear preference for sucking one thumb over the other. Hence, handedness is probably hardwired before baby’s birth. However, experts say that parents do not likely get a good sense of their child’s dominant hand until they are 2 or 3 years old.

Most importantly is that genetics play a key role in having a right or left-handed child. On the other hand, humans are not the only one to show a preference between the left and right hand. Other creatures in the animal kingdom also show a 50/50 split when it comes to which hand, foot or paw they use the most! Among the left-handed animals are kangaroos, which tend to favour their left paw for eating. Also, studies have shown that 90 per cent of parrots use their left foot to pick things up.

Accordingly, we all should accord a special tribute to all lefties for they are more creative than the right handed people. They are not only writing differently, but they also think distinctively. As Victor Hugo, a French poet, novelist, and dramatist, said, “The left handed are precious; they take the place that are inconvenient to the rest”. Hence, lefties are in great demand, but limited in supply as they only mark around 10 to 12 per cent of the world’s population.