The Power of Awareness and Conditioning

The Awareness of Conditioning
One of the most profound lessons I learned during my early years at Seoul University was the realization that I am a conditioned being. My environment, experiences, and upbringing shaped much of who I am. However, what truly unlocked wisdom and personal power was the awareness that I could choose my conditioning. This choice marks the beginning of creative self-mastery—the ability to shape who we are and who we aspire to become.

The Nature of Conditioning
As adaptive creatures, humans are naturally shaped by their environments. This is not a flaw but a survival mechanism. Just as understanding a flower requires studying its environment, understanding ourselves requires examining the circumstances that mold us. From the moment we are born, adaptation begins.

Everything from the way we are spoken to, the books we read, the schools we attend, the religious practices we inherit, and even the socioeconomic status we are born into influences our development. These factors create the foundation of our beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes, whether we are aware of it or not.

Socioeconomic Influence on Development
In the U.S., the immigrant experience illustrates how upbringing and environment shape character. Immigrants often endure hardship, which fosters resilience and a strong work ethic. By contrast, those raised in affluent environments may face different challenges, such as a culture of comparison or abundance, leading to a sense of entitlement or managerial aptitude. Both circumstances have their advantages, but they lead to fundamentally different forms of conditioning.

Conditioning as Belief Systems
Conditioning shapes not just our actions but also our deepest beliefs—what we deem worthy of fighting or dying for. Patriotism, religion, and political affiliations often stem from early conditioning. If a child is raised to believe that one ideology is absolute truth and is discouraged from questioning it, that belief becomes their reality. Even when presented with evidence to the contrary, they may resist, as their conditioning feels inseparable from their identity.

The Role of Awareness in Change
To change, we must first understand our conditioning. This is why therapists often explore childhood experiences to uncover the root of limiting beliefs. Awareness is the first step to progress—recognizing where unhelpful beliefs began gives us the power to replace them with new ones.

The Process of Reconditioning
While personality solidifies in adolescence, habits can be changed throughout life. Reconditioning involves actively replacing old patterns with new ones. If someone has been conditioned to focus on gossip and fear, they can choose to immerse themselves in nonfiction, documentaries, and meaningful conversations about ideas and growth.

This process is not quick or easy. Just as it takes years to grow into adulthood, reconditioning requires consistent effort over time. The seed of change is awareness, but nurturing that seed requires patience, discipline, and persistence.

The Rewards of Reconditioning
Reconditioning follows a three-step process:

1. Planting the Seed: Awareness of the problem.
2. Nurturing the Seed: The hard work of replacing old habits with new ones through deliberate effort.
3. Enjoying the Harvest: The reward of becoming the person you’ve worked to create, embodying the change you sought.

The beauty of the human experience lies in our ability to recreate ourselves. Unlike other animals, we are not bound by our initial conditioning. With imagination and effort, we can redefine our lives, creating something extraordinary.

Embracing Creativity and the Divine Within
The process of reconditioning is more than rational—it’s a creative act. It involves tapping into the boundless potential within us, challenging the limits of the imaginable, and shaping a life that reflects our highest aspirations. In doing so, we exercise the divine power of creation, crafting a reality aligned with our deepest desires.

We are conditioned beings, but we are also creators. The ability to choose and reshape our conditioning is a gift that allows us to transcend limitations. Awareness, effort, and imagination enable us to recondition ourselves and fully realize the creative potential within. The journey may be challenging, but the destination is a life truly lived by design.