We Become what we think

I wanted to discuss how we become who we are and whether there is even a true thing as the self.f Hopefully, I will provoke more questions than definitive answers...

I am currently in a Bio-psychology class which studies how the nervous system affects behavior. Their conclusions on the study of the mind is that it is produced by the balance of chemicals in the brain. From this,logic follows, that we are not ultimately in control of who we are and essentially decisions are made from the peculiar balance of chemicals every individual has.  Some even believe that there becomes no free will because everything is controlled by the biology of our brain. How do we come to accept this? I know I would like to feel responsible and in control of my life.


On the other hand, a friend and I were discussing how we become what we think about. essentially if you think all day about triathlons, work, or woman (haha) than that is what your personality becomes. The key is that you have the courage to act and carry out your thoughts. Doing this puts you in a cycle where you think about your dreams, you execute them, with a result of making you think about it more and doing it even better. But where do these thoughts originally come from? Who's right and who's wrong?


I believe we construct what goes on in our minds. I think this works in conjunction with Bio-psychology because we have a set of predetermined chemical balances that we learn how to manipulate. I think we all have a different way, that we have to learn as an individual, to seize control of our own minds. This is what I think Plato meant when he stated know thyself.


With me I have truly seen the power of positive thought and how it can turn everything in your life into a spark of like. Perhaps the Nueroscientist would say that it is just because I have so many Dopamine transmitters firing because I work out so much that I am able to be so happy. However, I think its because I choose to shape how I view the world. I play a mind trick on myself and convince myself of hope and goodness in the world. By thinking it, I find that I see the world as happy and good. my entire experience of life changes and fear of failure or any other predetermined fears that are set in our mind by society meld away.
I think it is this ability to control how we view the world and to decide what we think that allows us to make the world what we want it to be.