Beyond The Brain

uofmhealthblogs.org

Do we determine how we act, or is our behavior just a result of our brain telling us what to do? After all, the human brain is an amazing biological computer. For instance, scientists believe that the brain can store at least 1,000 terabytes of information. Considering that the 900-year old National Archives of Britain has accumulated "only" an estimated 70 terabytes worth of information throughout its history, the brain's storage power is indeed impressive. Not only can the brain sort out all the different memories and knowledge we've accumulated, it also simultaneously manages the different bodily processes that keep us alive. Heart beat, respiration, blood distribution, waste removal, all of these things happen while we engage in other conscious tasks such as eating, talking or watching TV. Talk about parallel computing and multi-tasking!

However, the brain, and consequently the body, is also influenced by the many chemical secretions and hormones produced by the endocrine glands. For example, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), produced by the pituitary gland, is also called the fountain of youth. It is also responsible for giving the mind an increased sense of well being and contributes to an increased sexual drive. Melatonin, produced by the pineal gland, influences our circadian rhythms and allows us to adjust for seasonal changes.

By extension, one may say that simply by changing the mix of these different chemicals, one can influence the actions, memories and experiences of people. For instance, DMT is also said to be produced by the pineal gland at one's birth, at one's death, or during deeply spiritual states. DMT can also be synthetically reproduced or extracted from plants. Some South American cultures use the DMT extracted from certain plants and mushrooms in order to induce altered states of consciousness. Of course, looking at our actions and experiences as simply by-products of complex chemical reactions relegates the idea of human consciousness to the confines of a purely biological construct.

But are we really just a reflection of the chemical soup being cooked up inside us? Pure materialists would say yes, but I would say that it's both yes and no. Yes, probably most people are susceptible to hormone-induced behavior. Just ask anyone who has been on the receiving end of a woman with PMS, or anyone who instinctively grabs for food at the first sign of hunger.

However, many also forget such a thing called willpower. Willpower is an attribute that not enough people have a balance of. For example, one may religiously go to the gym but have no control over what one eats, or be quite industrious at work but be unable to summon the discipline to exercise regularly. But willpower is the one thing that allows us to overcome our hormones.

We do not need to look far to find examples of this. Whenever I watch documentaries about special forces around the world, I notice that the one thing that the selection process is trying to test is the mental toughness of the trainees. This is why it's not always the fittest, the strongest or the most intelligent that make the cut. The previous attributes are all important, but it's mental toughness that truly identifies one as special forces material. As one training sergeant said, just when you think your body can't give any more, you can actually force it to perform when circumstances demand it.

The above examples are not limited to soldiers. People who survive disasters despite all odds, or athletes who perform superbly at crunch time, all of them display this same sort of toughness, the will to survive and the will to win. It's this "digging deep" despite the pain and exhaustion that can allow one to overcome extreme adversity.

Everyone has a certain amount of willpower, it's just that people use it in different ways and with varying degrees of strength. The key to applying willpower constructively is to be aware. Instead of mindlessly grabbing that Twinkie bar when you feel hungry, stop first and think if you just didn't drink enough water. Or perhaps choose some other healthy food instead. Instead of lashing out in anger when you see someone you don't like, stop and think about how to de-escalate the situation instead.

If you look at it more closely, the constructive use of willpower is basically the same as character building. Now imagine that. So next time you're tempted to just give in to your negative impulses, try to exert some mental effort to act differently. It's never easy, and there will be many times that you may mess up, but every time you succeed is one better act you've done today than yesterday.