Rewiring situations - a conversation with culture

Another of my chief fascinations: figuring out what the human brain is truly capable of. I feel that people do a fantastic job of stretching the brain's processing power. But what about its capacity for emotional redefinition? As humans, are we bound to anything? Is any reaction inevitable?

This story comes in countless forms, and plumes tireless tributaries. I chose conversational and instructive. I also enjoy poetic.

Culture gets the quotation marks. I'll take the quote-free flow.

Sometimes things go sour. I never fail to feel astonished when delving into my culture. When things suck, it tells me to feel bad, annoyed, disturbed, sad, broken. But what if I don't like feeling those things?

"Too bad," states culture. "Things went sour. You have to feel emotionally disjointed."

So I'm bound to respond with fire and fracture? The situation controls me, not I it?

"If that doesn't work for you, look at it this way. You have a right to be angry. You know that flash inside, that jangling, chemical upthrusty feeling, the rush of popping fizz? Those are the angry bees. They buzz inside, stinging. You just can't do anything about them."

But what if I like bees? What if I choose to welcome all sensations, no matter their nature, no matter how I react to them initially? What if I learn to love the hated?

"Oh no, don't do that! It's... not natural! Plus, you're human. You will feel anger. It's what humans do. Get over it, and don't try to mask it with niceties."

I know, and I won't. But I do not fear anger. I welcome it. I am human, and thus capable of any reaction. This can mean angry bees, or it can mean windswept flowers. I choose.

"Pssh, it's not so simple! You can't just say 'okay, nice anger, good anger, that's a fine trick! Now I'm just gonna set you aside for now and be happy.' It is what it is, and you won't expel it so easily."

Consider the nature of choice. When you choose to go vegan, is it as simple as "I'm a vegan!" and there you go? Of course not. This is true of all choices. When I choose happiness, I do precisely this: commit to cultivating all perspectives and actions that will maximize happiness in every moment of my existence. I don't ask for perfection. I ask for sustained commitment, for belief that it's possible. And then I go out and get it.

"If only it were so easy."

Does that really sound all that easy? Just because it's packed into so few words doesn't make it easy. What if I say, "Climb Mount Everest?" That's only three words. Few would assume or assert ease here. Here's the important part about climbing Mt. Everest, though: you can imagine the difficulties. We're all far more attuned to physical limitations and challenges than emotional. Moment-by-moment happiness and scaling the world's tallest peak share surprising facets, though on different planes.

"Then elucidate us, if you're so smart."

Now now, culture. Or should I call you ego? In this issue, you are one and the same. No need to get snippy. What role would you have if I no longer got angry?

"I can't tell you that. It would give you far too much control."

Okay, fair spoken. Allow me to guess. You would disappear. I would no longer need your voice. Something a fair sight more ancient would guide my choices and actions. Do I feel I can name this guide? Humans have the depthless ability to label, so certainly I could, but I don't need to.

I trust.

There is always more to this story. What would you add?

Hand-in-hand, we dance.

~Ryan