A Programmer’s Perspective…

If our brain is our computer and our mind is our operating system, who writes the software and how do we debug it? Can the programs that are constantly running in the background be modified? Who can modify them and how?

Who’s writing our software?

Being a software programmer for my day job, this analogy is an easy one for me to expand upon. There are many similarities between computers and software, and our brain and our thoughts. The thoughts that run in the background of our minds have a huge impact on our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Changing our thought patterns can change our world.

How is our software originally developed?

Our base software is downloaded through our genetics and is built upon, and modified, by those who interact with us and by the experiences we have. Our programs are pretty simple at first. We need only the basics, and they are provided for us. Our inputs are our five senses as well as our internal and external comfort from the love and care from others. Our outputs are eliminating wastes, crying, and smiles once in a while. As others interact with us, care for us and teach us, we find different ways to react to the varying stimulus that we receive. We begin to find that how we respond creates different reactions from those around us. This feedback helps us to learn how we can modify our behaviors to obtain what we need or desire.

As we learn and grow our programs get more complicated. We start to form emotions, opinions and attitudes. We start to develop the “me” and “mine” program as we start to figure out that we are an individual. As our language programs develop we learn that we can get information by asking lots, and lots, of questions. Then we start to develop the relationship programs. We learn that it is not all about us. There are other people in this world that we can enjoy being with and there are some that we want to avoid. We learn how to make friends and we learn how to further modify our behaviors to get what we need or desire. This process continues as we add more and more programs, some that determine how we feel about the things happening around or happening to us, some that handle how we react when we are happy or sad, and some that handle how we react to certain situations.

As we continue to interact with others and the world, our programs get larger and more complicated. It can become difficult to even follow why we reacted in a certain way to something that happened. In the programming world we call this “spaghetti code” because so many things can influence one thing and that one thing can influence so many other things. How we think affects how we feel, and how we feel affects how we think. How we think and feel affect how we react, and how we react produces feedback that further influences how we think and feel. At some point we must take control of the programs that are running and start “debugging”.

How do we change our software programs?

The first step in debugging software is to understand what is not working and to determine what the required output should be. The software then needs to be analyzed to determine if it can be modified and how that may impact other portions of the programs running. Just jumping in and making a quick change can cause unintended consequences. Once the requirements are determined and the existing programs are understood, then the software can be carefully modified.

We, as humans, have a great ability and gift. We can change our mind. We can start to think differently about things and with repeated practice can change our thought patterns, beliefs and attitudes. This in turn can change our perceptions, our reactions and our overall experience of life. This is not always an easy process because our thought patterns are seemingly hardwired in our brains, but with determination, practice and maybe some help and guidance of others, it can be done. The benefits are well worth the investment.

As in software, the first step is figuring out what is not working properly and what the desired results should be. One of the best indicators that a change is required is when the response is instantaneous or when the stimulus does not match the response in severity. For example: getting overly upset by someone inadvertently cutting us off in traffic. Awareness of an issue is always the first step in addressing it.

Once there is something identified to work on, then it is important to look at how we might change it and the impacts that it may have. In the example of being cut off, we could decide that the other person was a “stupid driver” or that they were out to wreck our day. We could also decide to only drive when there are no other cars on the road. Another option is to decide that their lack of attention was not a direct attack on us. That they made a mistake just like we may have earlier when someone honked their horn at us, and that we are thankful that we were aware enough to notice them and swerve to prevent the two of us from colliding. The next time someone cuts us off in traffic, maybe we will be able to take a breath before reacting and not feel the need to honk, scream and give them the finger. The moments between stimulus and response are when we can decide to respond differently.

Recalibration is sometimes required when the stimulus and response do not match in severity. Again as in the example of getting cut off, if no one was harmed and the person was not deliberately trying to collide with us, was there anything to get that upset about.  Taking ourselves out of the picture and trying on their shoes may give us a more balanced response.

There may be some issues that we need help to work through. Then we must find the appropriate person to assist and guide us through the process of change. This may be a psychologist, a counselor, a healer or maybe just a friend that is willing to listen. The work of expressing what is going on and of hearing and discerning the feedback is still our work to do, but the other person may be able to help us to make sense of the spaghetti code running in our system.

What I have found in my work thus far, and through my own life experience, is that much of our suffering is due to how we perceive the world. Those perceptions are derived by the beliefs and thought patterns that exist in our brains. Even when we know there is an issue to be addressed, if our minds are overly stressed and focused on the circumstances that we are experiencing, getting to the root cause of the issue is difficult. Relaxing the body and quieting the mind allows the brain to start to change and form new patterns of thought. It is common for me to give affirmations to my clients for them to use to assist in changing their thoughts or to just give them a different perspective to consider.

A final thought

If you are struggling with something in life, I hope that you will take the time to reflect on what may be causing those circumstances to manifest in your life and then use the resources available to you to take the appropriate action to change them. May you find whatever works best for you to become the person you intend to be.