Every routine we have serves to give us comfort. Human brain gets used to patterns of life we consider normal. When we know what comes next and what's supposed to be done, a reassuring sensation of safety fills up our being. The brain wants this world to be predictable, and even surprises and adventures that people usually seek don't go beyond the scenario of normality. No one ever wants to face things that break the pattern completely; and if it happens, people usually run from it or end up with the so-called psychological issues of all sorts. For the brain, breaking of the pattern of reality is like damaging the structure of its home.
There are extreme cases of this of course; remember the film Rainman? Dustin Hoffman's character couldn't bear changing his routines. If he had to watch a television show at 7 in the evening, it HAD to happen. Otherwise, he would panic and start exhibiting extreme anxiety. In the film, such reactions were a part of his condition. Raymond was sick. His brain could solve insane mathematical problems without a calculator in a matter of a second, but it couldn't stand not watching his TV show at 7 PM.
We think Raymond from the movie is weird. We think we are normal. We ask, how can anyone go mad for not watching a show on time and actually have a physiological collapse that would need hospitalization. But most people fail to see that it's just a matter of severity. I think Raymond is what could be called a "severe case" of what most people have. It's just that for most of us it takes more than skipping a TV show, but it general - every human clings to the routines and patterns for dear life.
And they are not just patterns of behavior and organization of the environment we live in. They are patterns of out thinking, reacting to stimuli and irritants, emotional responses, and even glorified things such as honor, responsibility, empathy, and love.
It seems that these patterns, habits, and routine ways of thinking, feeling, and organizing one's life are "built in" by a combination of nature and nurture. By the time a person reaches adulthood, they seem to happen automatically, by a familiar scenario of normality and ingrained ideas of how life should be. Yes, people do change ideas, learn to listen to others, accept unfamiliar cultural traits, and become smarter and wiser as they grow... but these are like grains of sand in the ocean. The ocean itself is one big common perception of reality and functioning of the human brain.
Are patterns bad, then? Is it bad for our brain to feel safe and comfortable? Above I just listed things that most of us consider perfectly normal. So what if there are patterns and we follow them? So what if we get used to a certain environment? What's wrong with the desire to predict what happens next? Isn't it necessary for survival?
No, patters aren't bad for our brain. Brain loves patterns, scenarios, and predictable things to build on. But here is my dark and uncomfortable question which will sound a bit like a conspiracy theory: "Are you a 100% sure that our brain is completely OURS?" Ta-da-da-da-a-m.... No, I don't want you to go running thinking that now Araksa will write another two pages on the subject of "reptilians who control our world", or annunaks, or whatever else people think is out there (or, rather, HERE).
It doesn't matter who people think the physical "enemy" is. The reality is that human brain is a very complex and dangerous thing which we, humans, don't understand. Most of the time, we do not consciously control any processes in our brain and body. The truth is, our central nervous system and brain run the show, and we just follow. If you think it's not true, try to defy gravity, stick your hand in boiling water (without getting burns), or attempt to stop your own heartbeat for 5 minutes without any damage to your health.
Maybe let's try something easier, something non-physical. How about this simple exercise: Choose something that drives you mad and would normally cause you a nervous breakdown. It could be dealing with irritating people, doing unpleasant tasks, getting a job in a place you despise, or engaging in a psychologically challenging activity (like babysitting five 2-year-old babies for the whole three days when you know that children just aren't "your thing"). Do this - any of this - and observe your body and brain.
Yet another simpler exercise: refuse to follow things you consider normal, necessary, and important. Things that relax you, take your mind off problems, make you feel better. It could be smoking, spending time with a loved one, watching The Game of Thrones every evening, or giving up your favorite pajamas and a pillow you've been clinging on since you were five. Better yet, try giving up 10 or 20 of those things at once, and see how your body and brain reacts.
Interesting things will happen. And these will be just some grains of sand in the ocean, like I mentioned above.
Practically every day of every person is filled with thousands of thoughts, feelings, sensations, events, and actions that we aren't conscious about - like waking up in the morning and just automatically doing "normal morning things", like eating breakfast, going to work, thinking about things you usually think about, planning for the weekend, giving an expected phone call to your mother, taking your child to school (saying the same things to him or her, and giving the same kiss on the cheek), having another one of thousands of cups of tea during lunch break, talking to the same people about things you won't remember tomorrow or even one hours later... And the whole world is ASLEEP.
I got up today, and it was so nice outside. It seems like a perfect day, everything: the weather, birds chirping, flowers outside, people strolling down the street, kids going to school with their colorful backpacks... even the sidewalk pavement under my feet felt so good! And as I was walking down the street on this nice pavement, listening to the birds, and catching the warmth of the sun on my cheeks, I realized - again - just how agonizingly NORMAL everything looks.
No one of us will ever truly want to see beyond all this. It is so perfectly REAL that no one will ever think twice. And if we do, it will end with the next time we get tired and fall asleep, or with the next time we have to deal with something more important. Whenever someone starts seeing a little more than we are supposed to, the system we live in (and our brain is a part of it) will do anything to bring us back.
There are ways, though.
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For more thoughts on the brain and the System, read Children of the System and Personal Freedom