Ah, the age-old debate. Obviously, we are who we are because of the two working in tandem. It is not one or the other. However, I would like to expose which parts of a person are developed more by one or the other.
So, physically, you are based of the genes of your parents...your environment doesn't affect your looks. But wait! What about goths or muscular people? What do they have in common? Well they have both modified their original appearance into something more suitable for them. Is this a result of genetics? As in, did their biological make up have fate set out for them to wear make-up or be at the gym five times a week? Maybe that trait was passed down by their parents, but more likely, I think it is a result of their environment. Through socially accepted practices and pressures, they made those choices. Did heredity influence Pam An to get a boob job? Doubt it...who can resist the temptation of a handful of greenbacks in our wallet?
What about sports? Are pro athletes born into the Hall of Fame? Hmm...alternately, were musicians born to sell 50 million platinum records? This may take some investigation. Now may be a good time to mention the book The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell (Blink, Tipping Point). He conducted a study of success. How did the pros get to be the way they are? How did Bill Gates earn the wealth of a small country? Gladwell claims that luck plays a huge part. These successful people share something in common; opportunity. I wont reveal anymore, but I urge you to read the book. So, whats the conclusion? Well, ask yourself, was Gretzky born to be great or was it the fact that his parents had him skating before he could walk? Gladwell expounds a theory called the 10,000-hour Rule. It makes sense. Imagine you put down the controller and gave up MW2. All the hours spent playing video games could have been put toward painting or something. Even if you didn't have a natural talent for art, you must admit, you'd be pretty damn good with 10,000 hours of hard work.
Now again, is it possible to have a natural talent for art? I don't think so. BUT! People are born with varying degrees of creativity, so some may be predisposed to create art in many forms.
What have we decided? We can now postulate that we are born with certain traits and we will be attracted to the things that we are good at, thereby getting better. If we were born athletic then we will likely be raised in an active lifestyle because we enjoy that environment due to our proficiency in it. Our parents provided the foundation, and our environment dictated what activities we pursue.
For all we know, Chris Rock or Dane Cook's parents are not humorous at all, but I think they are guaranteed to have passed on the foundation for humor; an open and inquisitive mind.
Showing posts with label Consious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Consious. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lucid Dreaming
Heard of this? Well, if you're well-informed, then you should have. Nonetheless, let me tell you about it.
Lucid dreaming is the act of being conscious during a dream. It is the ability to say, "Hey, Im dreaming right now!" You may have felt quick or little variants of this. This is good. But you're wondering, hmm, why would I ever want to feel awake when I'm trying to get my sleep?? Answer: because you can experience real-life situations, solve real-world problems, and act out any fantasy you've had. Some examples: let us say that you are having troubles with your partner and are trying to find the least dangerous way to break up. Acting out this scenario in your dreams allows a risk-free environment to find real, applicable solutions. You're perceptions of your partner in reality will be translated into your dream, therefore, any reaction they might have in the dream will be genuine. Another example of fantasies often dreamed about (pun intended) is flying. Lucid dreamers are revered by their ability to fly. It is one of the best feelings you can ever achieve.
Interested yet? Well you can do it too! Call now and receive our complimentary memory foam pillow and hand-crafted dreamcatcher. Results not guaranteed. That's right. Don't expect to be able to float across the great Pyramids of Egypt in your first try. Like anything else, lucid dreaming takes practice. They say some people experience the dreams without trying, while others may take months to experience it. If you don't already, start keeping a dream journal. This is your first step. Not only does it focus your mind on remembering your dreams, they are damn funny to read when you've wrote them at three in the morning with no light and a failing pen. The key is to write whatever comes to mind. When you wake up, don't move, just grab your book and start writing everything you remember. Don't force it, just let it come to you. Start with the general ideas, then move to specific. As I've mentioned, this task will mentally prepare you for the lucid dream. We all dream every night, some of us just have trouble remembering them. Keeping notes will focus your mind on remembering the dream and you will notice that your dreams will seem more frequent.
Once you have established a steady pattern of dreaming every night, you are ready to prepare for the conscious dream. To achieve consciousness in a dream, you have to tell yourself you're dreaming. This is not easy. However, the best way is to associate the real world with the dream world. Develop a habit like looking a your watch or pinching yourself and saying, "I'm dreaming right now." This habit will carry over to your dream world and when you look at your watch in your dream, you'll see that the hands are spinning all around or the numbers don't make sense and you tell yourself you're dreaming right then. And almost suddenly, you'll "wake up" and everything will seem much more vivid. Don't lose yourself though! Stay in there! Now you are the boss and moderator of your own dream. Go rob a bank or kiss that girl that you gawk at from across the room.
*NOTE. This all takes time! As they say in the dream world, "Patience, patience, patience."
Lucid dreaming is associated with your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These periods last about 25 minutes and happen four to five times a night. They tend to be longer in the later hours of your sleep, so depending on your awareness, your lucid dream is best experienced in the early hours of the morn. Note that your brain's neurons during REM sleep are very alike to that of the waking hours. (Have a read on Sleep Paralysis which is characterized by waking up during REM sleep.)
Lucid dreaming is the act of being conscious during a dream. It is the ability to say, "Hey, Im dreaming right now!" You may have felt quick or little variants of this. This is good. But you're wondering, hmm, why would I ever want to feel awake when I'm trying to get my sleep?? Answer: because you can experience real-life situations, solve real-world problems, and act out any fantasy you've had. Some examples: let us say that you are having troubles with your partner and are trying to find the least dangerous way to break up. Acting out this scenario in your dreams allows a risk-free environment to find real, applicable solutions. You're perceptions of your partner in reality will be translated into your dream, therefore, any reaction they might have in the dream will be genuine. Another example of fantasies often dreamed about (pun intended) is flying. Lucid dreamers are revered by their ability to fly. It is one of the best feelings you can ever achieve.
Interested yet? Well you can do it too! Call now and receive our complimentary memory foam pillow and hand-crafted dreamcatcher. Results not guaranteed. That's right. Don't expect to be able to float across the great Pyramids of Egypt in your first try. Like anything else, lucid dreaming takes practice. They say some people experience the dreams without trying, while others may take months to experience it. If you don't already, start keeping a dream journal. This is your first step. Not only does it focus your mind on remembering your dreams, they are damn funny to read when you've wrote them at three in the morning with no light and a failing pen. The key is to write whatever comes to mind. When you wake up, don't move, just grab your book and start writing everything you remember. Don't force it, just let it come to you. Start with the general ideas, then move to specific. As I've mentioned, this task will mentally prepare you for the lucid dream. We all dream every night, some of us just have trouble remembering them. Keeping notes will focus your mind on remembering the dream and you will notice that your dreams will seem more frequent.
Once you have established a steady pattern of dreaming every night, you are ready to prepare for the conscious dream. To achieve consciousness in a dream, you have to tell yourself you're dreaming. This is not easy. However, the best way is to associate the real world with the dream world. Develop a habit like looking a your watch or pinching yourself and saying, "I'm dreaming right now." This habit will carry over to your dream world and when you look at your watch in your dream, you'll see that the hands are spinning all around or the numbers don't make sense and you tell yourself you're dreaming right then. And almost suddenly, you'll "wake up" and everything will seem much more vivid. Don't lose yourself though! Stay in there! Now you are the boss and moderator of your own dream. Go rob a bank or kiss that girl that you gawk at from across the room.
*NOTE. This all takes time! As they say in the dream world, "Patience, patience, patience."
Lucid dreaming is associated with your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These periods last about 25 minutes and happen four to five times a night. They tend to be longer in the later hours of your sleep, so depending on your awareness, your lucid dream is best experienced in the early hours of the morn. Note that your brain's neurons during REM sleep are very alike to that of the waking hours. (Have a read on Sleep Paralysis which is characterized by waking up during REM sleep.)
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