Brain Core Part 1

When you engage with the discourse about the mind in general, online or irl, certain notions seem to come up more often than others. A large group of people prefer to actively execute and focus on action rather than sitting around thinking and talking in circles. Most interactions and discussions indeed feel like a waste of time and energy, since they rarely lead to a meaningful conclusion or any obvious progress. Beyond this general communication barrier, there are also some problematic narratives and ideas that have traditionally loomed over the topics of psychology and the mind. 

Just take a look at any figure in the self-help world that's worth their salt and you'll likely find echos of similar sentiments. For one, there's an overwhelming emphasis on things like self-talk and beliefs, as seen in the prevalence of positive affirmations. Although, at least in my own experience with the people around me, it seems like people are sobering up to the undeniably unpredictable nature of today's rapidly evolving world. I say the world is evolving rapidly, because evolution implies that thing become increasingly complex, and not inherently better.

You can only do so many visualisations before noticing the jarring disconnect from reality. Books like the power of your subconsious mind and the secret have played a large part in shaping this eco system. And while I've personally seen many people fall out of this culture, that may be attributed to the fact that these ideas are particularly attractive to financially well-off young adults and adolescents who see the world as their personal oyster. Perhaps I've simply seen people around me (I'm currently 25) grow out of it and that's why I feel it has falen out of fashion.

Regardless, many people seem to regard the notion of "Fake it till you make it" as perfectly acceptable, which is what those ideas look like in practice. "Change your belief to shape your reality" and so on. What's interesting is that the most successful figures in the self-help world seem to take everything before them and put it in thier own words, making connections with their own brands, philosophies, and idealogies. At least that's what Tony Robbins has done in my eyes. I can't shake the feeling that these ideas are always looming above me whenever I flirt with publishing work related to the mind.

New Age philosophies do seem to complement certain liberal ideas quite well. Specifically, ideas that accompany the prevalent economic trajectory of capitalism, along with individualism. "Money empowers the individual to do whatever they want and each person can also have a relationship with the almighty that's especially unique to them. So don't worry about how modern inventions clash with archaic beliefs, just tell yourself that you are incapable of making a mistake!" Perhaps that's why they've stood the test of time, at least in the 20th century. 

As the first quarter of the 21st century nears a close, it seems harder than ever to make meaningful predicitons about what's ahead. 

Continued in Part 2.