We are born with hard wired programs in our brain, DNA, inherited from generations of our species who have survived and passed down their genes (nature). We have basic programs to breathe, for our hearts to beat, and to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
As our brain develops, we mold and shape our brain with neural pathways, as a result of how we are raised and how we interpreted our interactions with the world (nurture). Our brain makes these pathways and relies on survival programming to be more efficient, though leaves us running much of the time in a subconscious state. Our brains are efficient, so as these programs develop it means we don’t have to relearn every day how to walk, or how to act in a situation similar to one we have been in before.
Our brains are so efficient, about 95% of the 60-70,000 thoughts produced by the brain each day are produced in the subconscious. We learn from our experience and base most of our thoughts on what we have learned. But this means that by the age of 30, 95% of the thoughts we have are ones we think over and over. As Joe Dispenza says, we are basically living in our past!
The DNA we inherited determines more than just our eye color or height. We can also inherit neural circuits already formed, that wire THOUGHTS, FEELINGS and CHARACTER DISPOSITIONS. We have hard wired codes, pathways of reactions, that predispose us to have a short temper, feelings of unworthiness or to be judgemental.
And then, we are typically cared for by those same parents who directly contributed their DNA and neural predispositions to us. We learn to model and copy their behavior. So it is easy to catch ourselves acting similarly to our parents, (most noticeably when we catch ourselves doing something we criticized our parents for, or swore we would never do.)
When I know my brain is a result of hardware and programming, like a computer. I do not need to criticize myself for every thought or pattern of thoughts.
If I know that I inherited programmed neural pathways for shame, and then was raised in an environment where I interpreted the messages as shameful, I should not beat up on myself (causing more shame) when I have a shameful response to a situation. Likewise, stress activates a release of adrenaline, causing us to fight, flight or freeze. This brain of mine runs programs just as the heart pumps, I digest food, and I breathe. I can become an observer of my brain, and have compassion on myself as I learn to rewire it.
Fortunately, just as a computer can function differently when reprogrammed, we can change the pathways and structures in our brain. NEUROPLASTICITY is the concept that the brain is changeable. Science has now shown that not only can new neural pathways be formed, there can be changes in the structure of the brain, and even in the DNA as cells replicate. Dr Bruce Lipton, the father of EPIGENETICS, teaches the expression of genes in our DNA is changeable.
Why do I think these concepts are important? This information taught me that I am not my brain, but I can make changes to neural pathways in my brain by being aware.
Knowing that the brain can change and the software can be modified or added can also help decrease some anxiety. Our cells are constantly being replaced and regenerated. Making different choices about how we react can start to form new neural pathways and decrease the old. We are not entirely at the mercy of the genetics we were born with.
We must become the watcher of our thoughts, and this is the important first step in mindfulness and mental wellness.
We do not have to judge our thoughts, just notice what programs are running there. They mainly come from our genetic or environmental programming. Journaling is a great way to notice the thoughts you are thinking, since slowing our thoughts down enough to write them can open us up to insight. Don’t be surprised or judgmental if you notice your thoughts are mainly negative. The unobserved mind has a negativity bias, which again has to do with our survival as a species. Remember we have the capacity to change our thoughts if they are not serving us.
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