The microexploration journey of discovery does not, if you really look closely enough, start with the first step you take.

It starts with you and your ability to take steps, to move forward.

It starts with you.

Biological Reality: You Are Your Body

You, if you can manage to get around the language and the thought that separates “you” and “your body,” you are your body.

Arguing for this biological reality means arguing against centuries of thought about the physical, material world tying an eternal, pure soul to the world.

It argues against enlightenment thinking where “I think, therefore I am.”

People who love to argue for the limitlessness of humans and who would much rather dive deep into delusional thinking in the hope that the universe will deliver if only they want something enough will hate this reality just as much as transhumanists who see their essence in their thoughts and want to recreate and immortalize them (and thus, themselves) in pure software, as if that didn’t require processors to run on.

Your journey of microexploration should, however, include a deep look and learning about yourself, first and foremost as a biological being.

What Biological Reality Does Not Mean

One of the reasons we seem to hate this biological reality is that it supposedly takes away from our special standing… But it should.

If you believe that God created humans in God’s image, then that same God also created the rest of the world, so why not see the divine in everything? Why not learn more about the biological that is clearly there, clearly of effect, and there for our understanding?

If you don’t, you need to look at reality even more. If you think that reality is just what you think, well try to think that you don’t need to breathe and try to follow that up in practice.

That we are, first and foremost, our bodies does not mean that we are worthless or only driven by impulses.

It does, however, mean that we do not close our eyes and thought to the biological and ecological processes that shape us and drive our behaviors.

Embracing our biological nature doesn’t mean we are trapped by it. It does not mean that we are worthless, “just animals” or only driven by base impulses. It does not mean that everything is just determined by our genes and we do not have any say.

It does set limits to what we can do, but so do many things. Physics, our economic situation, society. Our personal capabilities… which are a matter of biology and the learning that works on it.

And What Being a Body Means

Acknowledging this biological reality means recognizing the profound influence our biology has on our lives and using that knowledge to make informed decisions about our health, well-being, and personal growth.

It means acknowledging that our bodies and minds are not separate entities but interconnected systems that require a holistic approach to care.

Let’s look at those foundations and influences.

Our genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters orchestrate a symphony of complex interactions that shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. To deny this is to deny the very essence of what it means to be human.

It’s like trying to understand a piece of music by ignoring the notes and the instruments and focusing solely on the air pressure changes it is.

While it carries the sound waves, it is inextricably linked to the underlying melody.

In only becomes music, however, as it gets mediated by the nervous system that receives and interprets the sound waves in a certain way.

The interpretation, the effect, depends on the listener, their biology, their experiences, their background – and even their mood.

The thinking, the emotions, are something that clearly arises in the body, and the feedback loops we can learn about from a look at our biology and psychology are amazing.

Thinking Makes a Difference…

There are fascinating ways that our thinking can influence our bodies.

Perhaps the best known examples are the placebo (and nocebo) effects in which the belief that one is taking a substance such as a medicinal pill has a positive, healing (or a negative) effect – even when the pill in question is nothing but an inert filler or plain sugar.

How we think of challenges, how we interpret the stress of something that causes physical anxiety influences how it affects us.

If a challenge looming before you is an insurmountable hurdle giving you anxiety or an exciting opportunity that you will take on headfirst, according to your self-talk about it, shapes not only how you approach it but even how you physically react to it.

When you learn that stress decreases your cognitive ability, you do worse on a test under stress – and when you learn that stress increases your cognitive ability, you do better!

… but the Body Is The Foundation

Your thoughts thus shape other processes such as elements of your physiology, but biology shapes what is possible. Your thoughts are still a part of the processes happening in your body

It makes a difference in your decision-making, no matter how much you would likely interpret your decision as a rational or otherwise logical and thought-through choice, whether you were relaxed or stressed, hungry or full or in need of emptying your bladder.

If you think you can fly and jump off a cliff, you will quickly be shown that you were wrong.

And well, if you think you can eat whatever you want, whatever your base impulses and learned likes and food environments give you, you will – only too slowly – learn what you should have known and followed about healthy nutrition and fitness.

Talking of eating, the microbes in our guts may well have a say in what we feel like eating, in obesity, and even in the cultural traits of the societies we live in!

Stopping the Self-Deception

Denying this reality, in the pursuit of some utopian ideal of limitless self-definition, is not only misguided but harmful.

It creates a dissonance between our existing lives and our perceived selves, leading to confusion, anxiety, and even despair.

The attempt to transcend our biology, to become something we are not, is a futile endeavor that ultimately leaves us feeling lost and disconnected.

Ignoring our biology is not only detrimental to our individual well-being but also to society as a whole.

It creates a culture of denial where we are encouraged to reject our natural limits and perhaps even our capabilities and possibilities, let alone our ecological connections – our dependence on the world, our existence as one of many living beings cooperating and competing with each other over resources, creating our futures.

Caught up in a mass of abstractions, our attention hypnotized by a host of human-made technologies that only reflect us back to ourselves, it is all too easy for us to forget our carnal inherence in a more-than-human matrix of sensations and sensibilities. Our bodies have formed themselves in delicate reciprocity with the manifold textures, sounds, and shapes of an animate earth – our eyes have evolved in subtle interaction with other eyes, as our ears are attuned by their very structure to the howling of wolves and the honking of geese. To shut ourselves off from these other voices, to continue by our lifestyles to condemn these other sensibilities to the oblivion of extinction, is to rob our own senses of their integrity, and to rob our minds of their coherence. We are human only in contact, and conviviality, with what is not human.

David Abrams, The Spell of the Sensuous

In the end, the denial of our biological reality is a form of self-deception. It’s an attempt to escape the limitations and challenges that come with being human. But instead of liberating us, it traps us in a cycle of dissatisfaction and longing for something that is unattainable. By embracing our biology, we embrace our humanity in all its complexity and beauty. We accept our strengths and weaknesses, our joys and sorrows, and ultimately, we find a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in our lives.

Lessons

The lessons we can draw from acknowledging our biological reality have profound implications for our physical and psychological well-being:

Physical Well-being

Personalized Medicine

Recognizing our unique genetic makeup can lead to personalized treatment plans.

For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, your doctor may recommend specific lifestyle changes or medications tailored to your genetic risk factors.

Mental Health Treatment

Understanding the biological basis of mental illnesses like depression or anxiety can lead to more effective treatments.

This includes medication, therapy, or lifestyle changes that target the underlying biological imbalances.

Body Acceptance

Understanding that our bodies are shaped by our genes and environment can help us cultivate a more positive body image.

Instead of striving for an unrealistic ideal, we can focus on nourishing and caring for the body we are.

This can lead to improved self-esteem and a healthier relationship with food and exercise.

Nutrition and Exercise

Our bodies have evolved over millennia to thrive on certain foods and levels of activity.

Embracing this knowledge can guide us towards healthier dietary choices and exercise routines that optimize our physical health.

For example, a diet rich in whole foods and moderate exercise can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Psychological Well-being

Self-Understanding

Acknowledging our biological predispositions can help us understand our strengths, weaknesses, and emotional tendencies.

For example, if you tend to be more introverted, you can learn to embrace your need for solitude and recharge, rather than feeling pressured to conform to extroverted ideals.

Emotional Regulation

Understanding the role of hormones and neurotransmitters in our emotions can help us develop better coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety.

This might involve mindfulness techniques, meditation, or seeking professional help to address any underlying imbalances.

It also includes understanding our innate biophilia, our desire and the benefits we can gain from being in green surroundings.

Authenticity

Embracing our biological selves can lead to a greater sense of authenticity and self-acceptance.

When we stop trying to be someone or something we’re not, we free ourselves to live more fulfilling lives that are true to our inner nature – and we can still learn that humans’ true nature is much more diverse than we keep thinking, same as nature is neither all-good or all “red in tooth and claw.” This can lead to increased happiness and life satisfaction.

Healthy Relationships

Acknowledging our biological differences can help us build more compassionate and understanding relationships with others.

We can learn to appreciate the diversity of human experience and recognize that everyone has their own unique strengths and challenges.

In conclusion, embracing our biological reality is not about limiting ourselves or denying our individuality. It’s about gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and using that knowledge to live healthier, happier, and more authentic lives. By acknowledging the intricate interplay between our biology and our experiences, we can unlock our full potential and thrive in both body and mind.