– By Dixita Mehta
To continue our prior quest for self-exploration. This article asks 2 more questions about yourself. Let us dive into a world wherein we know ourselves bit more and realise our true potential.
Question 1
What is more important to you? Nature or nurture?
Well as a psychologist, I have always found myself in the tussle between nature VS nurture. But as I grew professionally, I realised the impact of both on us. Replying on any one will be favouring only side of the truth. It is highly inaccurate. Nowadays, it’s really ‘fashionable’ to attribute anything and everything to our genes. We certainly believe that our genes govern our entire mind process. We find it comforting to put the responsibility on our genes and take the burden off us. For example, if you are ‘destined’ to gain weight, you will! Why take any efforts to even try losing it?
To some extent nature does play a role. To quote an example, let us talk about Huntington Disease. Only one single damaged copy of gene and you whole body and mind is out of your control. Nurture doesn’t work in healing it. So sometimes, nature wins, sometimes nurture.
If we go back in time, we observe thinkers and experimenters’ tried to prove and deny any role of nature on our minds. They entirely relied on nurture (how is your upbringing). On the other hand, current genetic and neurological advancements are eager to prove the role of only and only nature on our minds and body. Both these methods are extreme. Let me prove it with a hypothesis. If you really wished you had 7 fingers on one hand, even if you are highly nurtured to believe that, you would not be able grow the extra 2. Such beliefs and nurturing is disastrous, both emotionally and mentally. But if you really want to learn rocket science, there is nothing in your nature (genes) that says you cant. If you put your heart to it, despite of any challenges, you can and you will!
Why is cancer so common nowadays? Cancer is a biological disease, yet is has its roots in our nurturing, in our lifestyle. High rate of smoking is directly related to high risk of cancer. We tend to forget that neurons and genes are responders. What you put in, so is you reap. It is really tempting to choose one and make things less complicated for us, but that not how we work.
So the next time if you read in the headlines, scientist have once again proved nature/nurture (one of them) wins! Think hard. Does such fight really happen? Are they in a fight or does a synchronization happen?
You are not a battleground for this unwanted Nature VS Nurture fight. You are a grand stage wherein both sync and act out the beautiful melody called as life.
It is always Nature AND Nurture.
Question 2
Does your mind wander when you are doing something monotonous?
Routine is something that makes us different. The difference between ordinary and extra ordinary is that the ones who strive to be extra ordinary stick to a routine. Whatever mood, time, place, situation, life stage or even planet they are on. It makes you focused and disciplined. It sharpens your mind. Yet, routine and monotony has its own perks. No one said it is easy. Once you are in your routine, your mind pulls you to different places. That is the time when we need to tame the monkey mind.
You would find negativity, gloomy mood, boredom, urge to be lazy around, and waver from your focus. It will happen. It is inevitable. A part and parcel of routine and monotony. My mind wanders into all the passion that I hold, singing, writing, exercise, cycling, playing sports and such humungous activities. What helps me to focus during my times of routine is my passion for routine. To be a better version of ourselves, we ought to work no ourselves. No one said it is going to be easy, but once you get hang of it, staying in your routine will be easier.