Epivolution

The story of human development – both individually and en masse – is one of both glorious and inglorious progression … driven by a combination of internal and external compelling forces, ideally toward bigger, stronger, smarter, more knowledgeable, more skilled, and more competitive attributes.  We don’t always get it right – and few of us make it the full distance providence would allow, but the trajectory UP is a compelling draw, though it is not for the faint of heart or weak of will! 

How far UP we can go has yet to be seen, since we’re not really there until “the fat lady sings.”  Our heritage – beginning with our DNA – gives us a basic “lifeprint” for survival, but also provides the capacity to craft, personally, the Destiny we would deign to claim.  The purpose of this offering is to suggest that the “lifeprint” we were handed can be modified to a considerable advantage – OR to a considerable disadvantage – depending on how we … combined with the forces of nature and civilization around us … shape it.

Epigenetic change is a supra-evolutionary process by which the expression of specific genes – or even of selected constellations of genes – in our already evolved genetic blueprint can be modified, either to complete normal development or to adapt to the environment in which we find ourselves.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics  Such changes go beyond normal homeostasis functions (such as hormonal changes, which only temporally and reversibly affect gene expression), involve chemical modification of DNA, and are generally permanent and heritable ... even though the underlying DNA sequence remains unaltered.   

Recent studies of behavior and addiction in rats and monkeys have elaborated details of behavioral sequelae to epigenetic change, but also suggested that epigenetic changes can be reversed ... for example by blocking the epigenetic process of DNA methylation. 

https://www.ted.com/talks/moshe_szyf_how_early_life_experience_is_written_into_dna#t-983123

The term I am using here – “Epivolution” – derives from a concatenation of the concepts of epigenetics and evolution to underscore the fact that “Whoever we are” genetically does not necessarily constrain us to “who we can become”.  And it takes only a slight “epi-metonymic

metamorphosis” in terminology to suggest an underlying “volition” … a willingness … to “morph” into something/someone more capacitized to succeed in a rapidly changing/evolving universe. 

Willingness drives the morph,

and

Inclination drives the direction of the morph.

Here’s where it gets both interesting and sobering:

“We are all exquisite reward detectors. 

It’s our evolutionary legacy.”

Anna Rose Childress

So, unless directed otherwise by our Executive Suite – or by that of some moderating external influence, we will go into default “Epivolution” toward whatever immediate, “bright shiny object” (reward) captures our fancy … and will continue on that journey indefinitely unless or until imposed upon by BOTH a change in WILL and acceptance of a “re-morphing” external influence.  

Such is the basis for 12-step addiction treatment programs.  One has to, first, admit to having a problem, then “WILL” oneself to change, and then accept professional and/or guided group therapy over an extended period to undergo a successful “Epivolution” to a more generative, more productive life-track. 

Now to a more esoteric, but even more personal challenge:  Can we self-manage an “Epivolution” toward a more generative, more productive life-track? 

I’m going to offer an emphatic YES!  But there is one catch: 

 First Principle of a Fulfilled Life

“Everything you deserve is going to take everything you’ve got.”

[But what ELSE – of any meaningful consequence – are you going to DO with your life?]

Here’s the practicality: Whether it’s epigenetic or epi-neuronal, behavior patterns beget similar behavior patterns.  And there seems to be an “organic” basis for the observation:

“Neurons that fire together wire together.”

Neuroscience Platitude

Thus, we form HABITS – generally connected inextricably to our reward system.  How do we BREAK habits that are not constructive or generative and create new habits that ARE?  Without access to epigenetic blocking agents or interloping external forces, we have to engage the higher-functioning cortex of the brain to reprogram the DNA (or the neurons that are "firing together") – at least figuratively if not literally!  So we have to invoke higher-order “Executive Privilege” to change our behavior to establish a new behavior – a new “brain wave” – pattern. 

I’m going to suggest finding or establishing a higher-order “Reward Zone” … along with more distant and more sustainably gratifying horizons of possibility, for starters.

“One definition of success might be:

refining our appetites

[e.g.,‘wanting’ what is most nobly and sustainably ‘good for us’] ,

while deepening our hunger

[e.g., for vibrant relationships and inspiring and enabling enlightenment –  

far above and beyond the horizon of ‘loaded’ pizza and double bacon cheeseburgers].”

Yahia Lababidi [annotated]

Current figuring sets the bar for significant, lasting behavioral change at around 66 days:

https://www.today.com/health/think-itll-take-21-days-make-your-resolution-habit-try-2D11826051   

Wouldn’t it be an interesting conjecture to suggest that sixty-six days may be the average time it takes for generative, non-chemically-assisted de-methylation of brain-based DNA to occur ...  ?

Brain plasticity is a growing, though still murky, area of investigation.  So we don’t know all of the “Ifs” or “Whys” or “Hows”.  But we know enough to start exploring ways we can take advantage of any brain plasticity we’ve got to engineer some positive “life plasticity”! 

Let’s “plasticize”, “de-methylate” and consciously … intentionally … re-engineer our way out of “same-old /\ same old, stuck-in-a-rut” foundering to a Destiny worth everything we’ve got.  You have a choice.  Run with it!  Quartermaster