The Illusion of Self
How our brains create the storyline of self and why it matters
What is the “self?” It’s something we all have, but what does it really mean?
The self is the idea that there is something deep inside us that remains fundamentally the same even when everything else changes. It’s like a tiny spark that makes us who we are.
This spark can grow bigger, create new memories, lose old memories, change our thoughts and beliefs, but deep down there’s still something that remains unchanged.
But how do we know this spark exists?
It’s a question that has baffled scientists and philosophers for centuries.
As humans, we experience a lot of different senses.
We feel things, we see things, and we hear things. We have thoughts, we have feelings, and we have the ability to learn new things.
But all of these things are separate experiences. So, at one point, do they come together to form a coherent consistent being? At what point do all of these sentient properties become — you?
When we think back to our past selves, we may realize that we are not the same person we used to be. Our thoughts and beliefs may have changed, and we may have different memories.
So, if everything that forms our “self” changes, how can there be a consistent being?
One way to think about the self is as a collection of memories. We like to think of memories as simply playing back a video in our head of what happened in the past, but that’s not what memories are.
Memories are our brain’s reconstruction of past experiences. We create these memories to fit the present narrative based on what we know now, how we describe “me” now, as well as our present needs and goals.
So, if you now think of yourself as a kind person, you’re more likely to remember all the times you’ve been kind to people, rather than the times you’ve been unkind.
We form narratives about ourselves around how we want to be seen by others. We convince ourselves that we’ll act and behave a certain way to fit that narrative, even when we are often mistaken.
If this is true and we can’t trust our memories to give an accurate description of who we were in the past, then how can we have a self that exists through time? Aren’t we just creating new “selves” every time this narrative completely changes?
It’s a complex idea to wrap our heads around, but it’s important to understand that the idea of self is one that is constantly recreated by our brains when the need arises.
This is what we refer to as the illusion of self. It’s like a magic trick — our brains create a storyline of sorts to make sense of the randomness that is human existence. And just like a magic trick, once we understand how it works, the illusion disappears.
Contrary to what you might be thinking, this does not mean that we don’t have a “self.” It simply means that it does not exist the way we think it does.
Our bodies are made up of a bundle of perceptions, sensations, and thoughts. Our brains try to make sense of the randomized nature of our being by creating a linear storyline. You were there. Now you’re here. It is this storyline of sorts that we describe as self. It’s just the brain’s way of making sense of the randomness that is human existence.
When most people think of a “self,” they think of something that can exist outside of the brain. But that’s just not possible. The “self” is a sensation of continuity and unity of self that is created by the brain. Without it, there is no self.
Anything other than this is just wishful thinking that humans are more than just a sentient bunch of molecules. The idea that deep down we have a soul. An immaterial essence that remains the same throughout our lives is a comforting thought, but unfortunately, it’s just not true.
So, what does this all mean for us as individuals?
Well, it means that we have the power to change who we are.
We have the ability to create new memories, form new beliefs, and change our narrative.
We don’t have to be stuck in one version of ourselves forever.
We have the power to create a new “self” whenever we want.
It’s important to remember that the idea of self is just a construct created by our brains. It’s not a physical thing that we can touch or see. It’s just a way for us to make sense of the world around us. And while it may be an illusion, it’s an important one. It’s what gives us a sense of identity and allows us to navigate through life.
But we must also be careful not to become too attached to this illusion. We must remember that it’s just a construct, and we have the power to change it whenever we want. We are not limited by who we were in the past. We have the ability to create a new self that aligns with our present needs and desires.
