Why?

Why do you like the sports teams you like?

Why do you dislike a certain group of people based solely on some immutable quality they possess?

Why do you believe there is an omnipotent man in the clouds who takes requests? Or worse, why do you believe killing people who don't believe the same things as you do will get you 72 virgins when you die?

The answer to all of these questions is conditioning. Human beings are not born with pre-programmed beliefs. Rather, we're conditioned by friends. family, and society to hold certain values. And, since our brains our hardwired to be accepted by the tribe for survival purposes, we often blindly follow.

Little to nothing is actually you. Human beings are dynamic. If you're holding onto destructive habits because "that's just the way I am," that's bullshit. You're saying the conditioned narratives running in your head are you. They aren't.

Next time you find yourself doing or thinking something harmful to yourself or others take a step back. Detach. Ask yourself, Why am I doing or thinking this? The answer--conditioning--will put you back in control.

We've been conditioned. The good news? We can create new conditioning by controlling our inputs and mindfulness.

If a belief doesn't add value to the world, purge it.