The Human Biome

"Most human diseases, behaviors and traits involve a combination of the genes we got from our parents as well as events we experience in our everyday lives, especially in utero and as children. You might even throw some microbes, or the lack thereof, into the predictive equations. Many of the conditions that seem to run in families, such as cancer, depression, intelligence, asthma, athletic prowess, height, addiction, happiness, autism, hypertension, musical talent, body weight, childhood aggression, longevity, altruism, heart disease, and schizophrenia, are part heredity and part environment. [Those families drink the same water, eat a similar diet, have music in their culture – or not, share various stresses, adopt similar habits, etc.]”  Evolving Ourselves: How Unnatural Selection and Nonrandom Mutation are Changing Life on Earth Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans, Penguin Group 2015 p. 63 

The long and the short of it all is that we can – and DO – substantially influence our own welfare and wellbeing by real-life exposures and experiences … whatever our genetic blueprint. 

One can’t help marvel at Jimmy Carter living a zest-filled life to the age of 90+ despite a family history riddled with early-age deaths from pancreatic and other cancers. 

Aberrations occur.  One can’t help being stumped by George Burns living to be 100+ despite smoking cigars all his life! 

Burns notwithstanding, what we smoke, what we eat, what we drink, the time we spend in the sun, the time we spend with friends/on the job/in front of the TV/on the Smart Phone, how much we worry, how much exercise we get, and the drugs we take can dramatically affect our performance and possibilities.  Elite athletes don’t “tune” their bodies with Ding Dongs and pork rinds (although their metabolism would probably handle the empty calories and chemical additives a lot better than that of a couch potato!)   And one certainly doesn’t put diesel fuel or sugar water into a race car or feed cheese cake to a race horse. 

With all the things we can do – good OR bad – to impact our welfare and well being, the combined impact of the unperturbed moment, the compulsion for Immediate Gratification, the street-wise bravado of defying constraint and common sense, and an indigenous reliance on Delayed Ramification can foil even the highest order genetic blueprint or best of intentions. 

So how do we manage?  It turns out that the PSYCHOME is the most powerful component of the BIOME in our armamentarium for successful passage.  As the brain is equipped, so goes life.  While IQ is more or less “fixed”, content and contextualization are not.  We can fill the tabula rasa with fantasies, fluff, fixations, and fabrications, or with facts, fundamentals, fortifications and fulfillable Dreams.  Content matters!  Contextualization matters!  Inclination matters!  A true-reckoning map of the world and how it works matters!  And who’s driving matters! 

Executive Function should be our "Designated Driver".  Executive Function governs what goes in and goes on in the workings, and is one of TWO defining attributes of the Psychome that will make or break us – including our genome.  Executive Function employs the following tools: Discipline, Structure, Judgment/Rationality, Certifiable Principles and Practices, Editing (sifting, sorting, sanctioning, carding, discarding … ), Delayed Gratification, Visioning, Vectoring, Goal Setting and Goal Tending, Planning, Prioritization, Analysis/Assessment/Evaluation/Accountability Monitoring, Engagement of Virtues over Vices. 

Emotional Intelligence is the second defining attribute of the human Psychome required for success.  Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence, Bantam Books, New York, 1995, p. 8) points out that we have two minds: one that thinks (Executive Function) and one that feels (Emotional Intelligence).  Key elements of Emotional Intelligence include: Self-Awareness, Self-Direction, Self-Efficacy, Motivation/”Zeal”, Attitude, Passion Policing, Endurance/Persistence, Sociability, Impulse Control, Managing Disappointment and Loss. 

So what can one do to enhance Executive Function and Emotional Intelligence? 

Some of us have to work harder than others, but enhancement IS possible! 

First, we need to do away with a lot of preconceived notions and small pond thinking and look toward higher and more distant horizons.  Then we need to start “mining” the universe for all of the raw material we can acquire to build our “something like a star” LIFEOME (LIFE-O-ME).  [NOTE: Executive Function needs significant materiality to manage or it will atrophy!] 

Next we need a lot of real-world experience, mentoring, socialization, research and experimentation while “sharpening the saw” (enhancing our understanding, refining our skills, and revisioning our possibilities, Stephen Covey).

Finally, and fundamentally, we need to understand that, while the possibilities in life are ultimately and inextricably bounded by the genome, the most positive outcomes are absolutely not going to happen without getting the higher-order “omics” properly engaged.  And we need to force the issue: Give the Psychome and Lifeome proper nurturing!  DON'T POISON them or fill them with trash and trivialities!  Feed them some real capacitizing and coping capital.  Aerate them – get them moving – give them exercise.  Stretch them to full capacity – take on big Dreams … big challenges and see what they can do.  A properly tuned and turned Psychome and Lifeome can make the Biome shine like the diamond it really can be, even with all its imperfections.  I can’t wait to see yours sparkle!  

Quartermaster