Transcending Nature and Nurture

When it comes to change and transformation, it seems to be confusing. What can we change and what can we not change? We can physically manipulate certain aspects of ourselves, but when it comes to behavior, it is not so clear. The investigation turns more mysterious when it comes to certain complexities such as addiction – is our behavior shaped by the environment or is it genetically predetermined? Irrespective of both instances, can we transcend what we have inherited or learned? In other words, can we chart a new course for ourselves?

The questions become more compelling if we take a look at alcoholism. Many say that that it is an incurable disease. Some argue that alcoholism is a genetically inherited disease, whereas others argue that if you grew up in an alcoholic home, you are prone to excessive drinking as well. Some argue that it could be a combination of genes and environment. The following article takes a closer look:

Unfortunately, when it comes to addiction, the concept of nature and nurture is hard to untangle. There’s compelling evidence on both sides, and sometimes, a person might have a risk from both genetic factors and environmental concerns.

So, can we overcome our addictions and compulsions? The yogic tradition says we can. Through meditation and heightened awareness we can change our behaviors.

Neuroscientists are now taking a deeper look at meditation and noticing how the practice can actually create new neural pathways in the brain. Neuroscientists found that after just five 20 minute sessions of a meditation technique, people had increased blood flow to an area of the brain vital to self-control, the anterior cingulate cortex. After 11 hours of practice, they found actual physical changes in the brain around this area, which can help with the impulsivity that accompanies excessive drinking.

Researchers from Yale recently found that a 4-week meditation training program was more effective as a treatment for addiction for smoking than the American Lung Association’s ‘gold standard’ treatment. Over a period of 4 weeks, on average, people saw a 90% reduction in the number of cigarettes they smoked-from 18/day to 2/day and 35% of smokers quit completely! In a four-month follow-up over 30% maintained their abstinence. Although rigorous research on the use of meditation for addiction relief has only begun, the results show great promise for binge eating disorder, cigarette addiction and alcohol relapse prevention.

In this short video, Sadhguru speaks about how to overcome addictions and compulsive behavior that could shed some more light: