Who Are We, Truly?
Can we answer truthfully just who it is we are? We all have this idea of who we are and research has shown that this ideal self we believe ourselves to be is seldom an accurate portrayal. To say we are just one person is also an inaccurate presumption. We are in fact a series of multiple selves. We are all a distinct group of selves that are in constant battle to see which one will win and sport the title of behavior.
I have very good eating habits. I adhere to a plant based diet but I have little control over anything that crunches. Chips, pretzels, cookies and anything of the sort I have little willpower to resist and even less portion control over. So I ensure that I am not around those things to take off any mishaps on my part. On the rare occasion that I consume three thousand calories in one sitting I get irritated with myself. Who exactly is it I am irritated with? Is it my vegan self? Someone else perhaps?
We all have had the experience of multiple selves even if we were not consciously aware of it at the time. It begs the question is one self more authentic than the other? If it is so easy to be the person we want to be why is it so hard? Why do so many of us fail at being this person? Why do we make the mistakes we do and have the regrets we have?
A large portion of our behavior comes from our past experiences, our environments, and our I meditate situations. For the most part we've had nothing to do with many of our past experiences and few of us consciously construct our environments or situations. Who then decides which version of our self gets to come out and play?
We are largely governed by our unconscious processes. Estimates have it that ninety-five percent of our daily routines are in fact managed by our subconscious. Most of the seventy thousand thoughts we have a day are subconscious and the estimated thirty five thousand decisions we make a day are subconsciously controlled. If so much of our lives is in fact automated, who then decides which version of the self is manifested?
Our social circles are incredibly powerful and influential. Whether we consciously create them or randomly find ourselves in them they largely dictate our behavior as we are social animals and abide social norms of whatever cultural setting we find ourselves dominated by.
Time will tell if neuroscientists will be able to further answer many of the questions posed in this writing. If we are all simply a series of multiples with little say over which one is the more routine pattern then it makes it easier to be less critical and judgmental and more understanding when faced with someone who is different. After all they may not have had as much say as you have as to who their dominant self is.
I have very good eating habits. I adhere to a plant based diet but I have little control over anything that crunches. Chips, pretzels, cookies and anything of the sort I have little willpower to resist and even less portion control over. So I ensure that I am not around those things to take off any mishaps on my part. On the rare occasion that I consume three thousand calories in one sitting I get irritated with myself. Who exactly is it I am irritated with? Is it my vegan self? Someone else perhaps?
We all have had the experience of multiple selves even if we were not consciously aware of it at the time. It begs the question is one self more authentic than the other? If it is so easy to be the person we want to be why is it so hard? Why do so many of us fail at being this person? Why do we make the mistakes we do and have the regrets we have?
A large portion of our behavior comes from our past experiences, our environments, and our I meditate situations. For the most part we've had nothing to do with many of our past experiences and few of us consciously construct our environments or situations. Who then decides which version of our self gets to come out and play?
We are largely governed by our unconscious processes. Estimates have it that ninety-five percent of our daily routines are in fact managed by our subconscious. Most of the seventy thousand thoughts we have a day are subconscious and the estimated thirty five thousand decisions we make a day are subconsciously controlled. If so much of our lives is in fact automated, who then decides which version of the self is manifested?
Our social circles are incredibly powerful and influential. Whether we consciously create them or randomly find ourselves in them they largely dictate our behavior as we are social animals and abide social norms of whatever cultural setting we find ourselves dominated by.
Time will tell if neuroscientists will be able to further answer many of the questions posed in this writing. If we are all simply a series of multiples with little say over which one is the more routine pattern then it makes it easier to be less critical and judgmental and more understanding when faced with someone who is different. After all they may not have had as much say as you have as to who their dominant self is.
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