Being Human - A User Guide: Recent Episodes
Anne Burton
Free audio version of Being Human - A User Guide
Would you take on the task of programming the worlds most powerful computer without so much as a user guide?
A short guided meditation to accompany the chapter on Connection - take a few moments to relax and reconnect with what's right for you
Connection
We have a pack mentality, and the need for connection is fundamental to our survival, our experience as a human being and our very existence. There are parts of our brains that are hardwired to seek out and confirm our connection to others and our sense of belonging. So, what happens when we disconnect? What do we do when we feel like we don’t belong? What do we do to fill the gap we create by disconnecting, and how can we get back the connection that we need?
As a species, we have developed increasingly sophisticated ways of communicating, and we are always communicating something to somebody. We do it so naturally that we take it for granted and assume our message has been received as we intended when it may have entirely missed the mark. But what is it that we are really communicating and what can we do to be in more conscious control of it?
There are many differing opinions on what consciousness is and where it stems from.
Some believe it is God given; some say it’s just a by-product of chemicals in the brain and some that it is part of one vast universal consciousness.
The bottom line is that we don’t really know.
All we do know is that we are having some sort of experience and that our consciousness is a part of that. It’s how and what we think. How we make meaning, create beliefs and decide who we are. How we select what we do and don’t pay attention to and how we can use this to create change.
It all starts with awareness.
All computers need a capable operating system to support the smooth running of programmes and applications, and the supercomputer that is the human mind is no different. Yet, even though it sounds crazy, most people go through their lives without ever having read the manual.
Whatever we do in life, whether our goals are large or small, having a User Guide to help us understand the core components of our human operating system, vital cogs such as Consciousness, Communication, Connection, Courage, Creativity, and Compassion is a must. It will ensure we remain resourceful, resilient, and well throughout the journey.