The Human Being as a Biological Species
These days, the internet is flooded with popular bloggers and channels focused on psychology and self-improvement.
Many of them promise a magical pill in the form of various practices, exercises, and insightful quotes.
By simply reading them, you’re supposed to gain incredible strength, motivation, and a zest for life.
Subscribers keep subscribing, likes keep coming in, but life remains the same.
And to be honest, I’ve written on this topic too, and I’m not particularly pleased with the tone of my last piece on self-reflection. There are a couple of overblown sections that I’m planning to revise in the next edition.
Like many, I made a mistake — I started with high-level topics tied to mentality and inner worlds.
But is there anything more foundational? 🤔
Indeed, there is.
After all, consciousness, reason and intelligence are what distinguish us from animals. Let’s recall how human history began.
It certainly wasn’t with self-reflection or intellectual discussions by the fire while munching on freshly hunted “mammoth” meat.
Even then, humans must have had significant intelligence to overpower an animal ten times their size and weight.
In those times, physical strength and endurance, or the ability to hide well, mattered more — traits that brought humans closer to animals.
Let’s face it, the evolution of human intellectual capabilities wouldn’t have been possible if our species had gone extinct eons ago, failing to adapt and survive.
Consciousness complements the human body; it is not its foundation.
As crucial and defining as it is, consciousness halts in a lifeless body. Our spirituality requires a living, healthy vessel to thrive.
In my article on self-reflection, I discussed the importance of self-inquiry about one’s physical and moral well-being.
It’s a self-questioning process where the answer is expected from oneself.
But the average person isn’t a doctor, so what’s the point of these answers if we can’t decipher them?
Historically, when humans couldn’t find answers or logically justify something, beliefs in higher powers emerged.
I’m not trying to challenge any beliefs here; in fact, faith, in any form, is a potent tool.
However, with growing atheistic sentiments in today’s world, an individual’s inability to interpret their body’s signals leads to heightened anxiety, stress, and depression.
The situation worsens when one, seeking help, falls prey to unscrupulous individuals with ulterior motives.
How can we learn to understand the language of our own body?
The first step to truly understanding our body’s language is immersing ourselves in credible scientific facts and studies 🧐
But beware: 95% of the information online might NOT be as reliable as it appears.
In this context, traditional texts like school textbooks on biology, anatomy, physics, and chemistry are invaluable.
We’re after solid facts.
For instance, if you were to fall from a nine-story building, chances of survival are grim, all thanks to our natural limitations.
As a chemistry homework assignment,
I suggest you find some addiction of your own: caffeine, nicotine, sweets, flavor-enhanced foods, or any other can’t-live-without item.
Try going without it for just three days and observe how you feel. But deep down, you probably already know the answer.
Mood is an intriguing aspect, deeply tied to our nervous system and hormones.
Recall the times you’ve snapped at someone just because you weren’t in the mood? 🤬
Some substances can even dictate our behavior to a large extent.
If external substances can have such an impact, imagine the potential of influencing our lives from within, harnessing the power of self-awareness and understanding our bodily processes 🫢
But let’s also discuss the flip side.
Recognizing our physical essence and our place in the spectrum of biological species offers not just a chance to address our vulnerabilities but also an opportunity to infuse our lives with joy.
Certain activities are guaranteed to release endorphins:
- physical and social activities
- savoring delicious food
- experiencing fragrances
- listening to music
- indulging in a hobby
Our body is truly a remarkable masterpiece of nature.
Far from perfect, yet harmonious and balanced.
The skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular systems, ligaments, joints — all work relentlessly every day, a well-oiled machine in operation for hundreds of thousands of years.
Our brain and nervous system deserve special mention, driving this entire “locomotive.”
This is where consciousness stems from, placing humans at the top of the food chain.
However, it’s not mystical or intangible.
Even though some nerves are as tiny as blood capillaries, they still physically exist, transmitting electrical impulses ⚡️
Some large ones, if physically injured, can lead to dire consequences and prolonged recovery 🥲
Interestingly, this is the only system (perhaps with the exception of the immune system) that can “lie”.
Pain’s nature is one of the most fascinating subjects. Phantom pains, for example, are intense, real sensations in limbs that no longer exist 😵
Chronic pains, on the other hand, can emerge without any physical injuries or abnormalities.
Another interesting connection is between brain activity and our digestive system 🤪
Let’s shift our focus from the intricacies of individual biological processes to the broader scope of human populations and see what insights we can uncover.
The global human population crossed the 8 billion mark just a year ago.
Rewind back to about 70 years, and this number was roughly a third of that, standing at 2.5 billion 🤯
This period witnessed the zenith of human technological advancements, especially in medicine, and the birth of the internet.
But in the grand timeline of evolution, what’s 70 years?
Regrettably (or fortunately?), even the past 2000 years is but a drop in the evolutionary ocean.
We’re not sprouting a third eye or extra limbs anytime soon, even if it’s vital.
Even the sparrows around us haven’t changed much from two millennia ago.
Essentially, we’re still the same old primates from 200,000 years ago, just a tad smarter.
It’s highly unlikely that early Homo sapiens spent eight hours behind a desk.
Our bodies still crave movement — a harmonious dance of all its parts.
Prolonged stagnation is contrary to our physiology.
Any deviation from our biological norms results in stress.
Modern lifestyles can be particularly harsh, especially for jobs that demand prolonged sitting, static postures, or repetitive motions.
Ignoring our body’s cues will eventually lead to warning signs, typically from our nervous system. While these early signals aren’t critical, understanding them as soon as possible is vital.
Like anything in life, it’s essential to start with the basics.
The world isn’t perfect, and neither are we.
It’s unrealistic to expect, say, by age 15, to know everything about our bodies and then spend the rest of our lives building our mental world.
Life just doesn’t work that way.
Numerous processes run concurrently and interdependently, just like our body systems.
Success hinges on endurance and consistent effort.
Some may confuse “endurance” with “patience,” but in this context, the distinction is crucial.
Despite the significance of recognizing ourselves as a biological entity, this realization might remain elusive without the necessary mental maturity.
Balance is the key. It’s an ongoing race between the physical and psychological, with each constantly pushing the other.
But it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon.
The strategy involves allocating our primary life resources wisely, with our body and health being paramount.
P.s.: all images are generated by Midjourney AI & DALL·E 3
If you liked the article, you can follow me here as well:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitry-potylitsyn-723b30163/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Naararouter
