Programming
Most people don’t even know or understand their own beliefs, values, programming and operating systems. It is important to gain consciousness of this because our programming determines everything: who we decide to be, how we choose to live our lives, what we value, what we believe, how and what we choose to devote our energy to, the relationships we form, the work we take on, what we do, and ultimately, the lives we create for ourselves.
Programming templates are usually passed down to us from our parents, families, schools, communities, and society. Every interaction, influence, and environment shapes the selves we create in our early childhood into adult lives. We are very much influenced by the unconscious beliefs, values, behaviors, patterns, messaging, language, and preferences that surround us and we absorb it like a sponge in childhood. While we all have our own tendencies and interests, we are greatly shaped by the environment and container we grow up in and determines the program we inherit.
In human culture, there is a larger mandate ensuring the domestication of children into functioning adults in society. We are shaped by our community values and beliefs, but also, by the larger macro cultural values and belief systems of our society. For the prevailing culture or ‘way of doing things’ to be maintained, it requires everyone to be similarly socially programmed and complicit in following that program. Our society is entirely engineered to ensure that everyone behaves in the way we are supposed to. We pass down this programming to streamline the domestication of children and young adults. And the same reinforcing messages are embedded everywhere, through people, institutions, media, culture, art, news, tv, movies, music, etc. In this world, we domesticate our children so they understand the societal rules of control, obedience, and accepted behavior from an early age. We believe that in this process of domestication, it will keep our children safe and they will grow up into successful, productive and responsible citizens of the world. The philosophy of capitalism rules our culture and society. And it extends to how we be and function in the world. Every aspect of our lives has been carefully crafted to ensure the same messaging of control and consumption. Believing that doing and being productive will achieve us meaning and love in life. The status quo ways of being and believing are pervasive and deeply rooted in our collective, unconscious program.
When people remain complicit in a program, a self, a life, that feels untrue, we tend to stay out of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of things not working out, fear of going it alone, fear of being different, fear of not belonging, fear of not being loved. Any number of fears can keep us stuck in a program that doesn’t benefit us. And oftentimes, we use our minds to further justify all the reasons why we should keep ourselves trapped and to stay. Our fears are constantly being exploited for mass control. To control who we are, what we dedicate our lives towards, what we use our energy towards, We are unconsciously programmed to have the same desires, believe and value the same things, behave a certain way, think a certain way, look a certain way, express ourselves a certain way, devote our energy in a certain way. We are given prescribed paths to follow and roles to carry out. We are constantly bombarded by numerous messages everyday reminding us of this fear, reminding us of the ‘correct’ program, reminding us to not question and explore what else is out there.
People can spend their whole lives operating off the same programming, perhaps only to realize that it didn’t serve them in the end. That the results were not really what they desired. Perhaps their lives somehow feel lacking in meaning, purpose, or joy. How many regrets can they count in their mind? Would they go back and do something different? Be a bit bolder? Be more brave? Make the changes they always wanted to. Take the risk and just go for it?
Gaining consciousness of our program, and exactly what that program is, can be a challenging endeavor. But even without full spiritual awareness, I believe people can still feel deep down when something doesn’t feel right or good. Or when something feels off or when something important is missing. It’s the nagging feeling, deep within us, that we should embrace. Instead of pushing it deeper down into the darkness, bring it to the surface into the light. Recognize it, accept its inconvenience, and allow its question to propel you towards an unknown path that can set you free. It is everyone’s way out of a program, a self, a life, that may feel unrecognizable, disconnected, unfulfilling, or untrue.
We must continuously remain vigilant and consider the programs we inherit from society. The ones that are already installed and carried out within us. It requires that we be willing to challenge ourselves: what we think we believe, value, think, desire, perceive. Does it actually benefit us? What are the results they lead to? Does it allows us to feel free and at peace within ourselves and who we are? Does it nourish us in health and joy? Are we able to pursue lives with meaning and purpose? Does it give us space to learn and grow?
Our programs are the foundations in which we build our selves and lives upon. They are our operating system that carries out the actions and creates the results of our lives. There is no real change unless an individual is able to learn how to change their program, making the unconscious conscious. It goes beyond simply recognizing something is bad and that it needs to replaced with a different behavior in the mind. Reprogramming goes beyond the superficial of the mind. It must be rooted in connection with the soul, to first learn and discover the Truth. It’s a process of shedding all of the false programs absorbed from human conditioning, to rediscover one’s True program from nature. All True and healthy programs originate with the Truth of the soul, and will effortlessly be carried out as it is what is natural. Like the functioning of nature, you don’t have to force what is True.