Free Will
Just like a movie in the cinema, the movie that we call ‘Our Life’ also goes exactly as it should. Every scene and every event could therefore, never be any different. It may sound a little unbelievable, because for us humans, it seems like we do have free will. It seems like we can choose what we do and what we think. At this very moment, you could choose to continue the book or stop reading it. Even though it seems like you are making the choice now, the choice is not made by ‘you.’ The choice originates within you. Researches conducted by neuroscientist’s have proven that we do not create thoughts, but that thoughts originate from within. We do not choose what we think!
The most famous to date research, is that of neuroscientist Benjamin Libet. The test subjects were to press a button at a time of his/her choosing. Watching on a monitor, Benjamin Libet could tell that the subjects were going to push the button 200 to 500 milliseconds before they actually did.
In short, there is unconscious brain activity first, followed by an action. As the neuroscientists can see the unconscious brain activity, they know when the subject is going to press the button even before the subject is pressing the button. So before becoming aware of pressing the button, the unconscious brain has already made the decision to press it. The latest research shows that one can predict when somebody is going to push the button six to ten seconds in advance. In most cases, one can also anticipate if the subject will press the left or the right button.
Thoughts, feelings and actions originate automatically and unconsciously and after that, another part of the brain activates and comes up with a story about the previous activity. We call this the ‘default system’ of the brain. It is constantly creating the illusion that it is you doing all the actions and also creating stories about why we do the things we do. Our consciousness comes into play very late, and we become aware of a choice, a feeling, or thought once it has already been made by the unconscious brain. Our consciousness is therefore no more than a poorly informed reporter.
I Do Not Control Myself?
Strange, isn’t it, the idea that we do not have free will? At this moment, it seems as though you can choose to do what you want. However, our brain guides us to carry out certain actions, make choices, blink our eyes, get something out of the fridge, and speak.
The idea of free will is probably even stranger than the idea of not having a free will. Think. Do you choose to breathe in and out? Do you choose to let the blood flow through your veins and to make your digestive system work? Do you choose when you are hungry
and thirsty and when you have to pee?
Do you choose to be ill? Do you choose to be sleepy and do you decide when you fall asleep? Do you choose to heal your wounds and to let your hair grow? It all happens automatically. Do you choose how you feel? If we could do that, everyone would truly be happy!
If that were the case, we could also choose to never be moody again, to never feel depressed again, to eat healthy all the time, to exercise every day, to drink less, to sleep more, and to never be judgemental again.
As an inspirational speaker Paul Smit talks about who we truly are in his talks for businesses and organizations.