The Beta Version of You
Updated: Dec. 20, 2015
Originally Published: Oct. 10, 2014
There’s a notion floating around that we’re paralyzed by convenience; that having too many choices can overwhelm us and leave us unable to decide. While I believe there’s some truth to that, it doesn’t fully explain why we might trade a chance to meditate for a binge-watch of a show like “Transparent.” It’s just so easy to stay put—physically in our apartments or emotionally in our comfort zones. We all know that many of our long-standing issues stem from unexamined beliefs lurking in our subconscious. Choosing to remain stagnant when we yearn to move forward is just bowing to our inner selves. I think it’s tough to be healthy because we often subconsciously prefer to stay stuck in familiar patterns, clinging to the identities we’ve always known: the sick one, the weak one, the outcast, the broken.
We cling to outdated stories about ourselves and rely on the same old ways of thinking, comforted by perspectives we formed as children. If we don’t actively challenge these views, we naturally slip back into them. Each time we decide against doing something we know we ought to do, we revert to those outdated beliefs.
Growing up, my stepmother, Lisa, loved her gadgets and high-tech toys. She outfitted our home with an intercom system on every phone, which she sometimes used to eavesdrop on our private conversations. The basement was a treasure trove of cords, antennas, and random tech parts—she was convinced she’d need one of those ancient video cameras someday. One memorable evening, she came home with a Betamax VCR, declaring, “This is the future!”
But guess what? It wasn’t the future at all, and it became obsolete faster than you can say “blockbuster.” The outdated images we have of ourselves, the ones we don’t even realize are steering our choices, are our own personal Betamax. Sure, we can keep using these outdated models to frame our stories, but wouldn’t we be better off investing in something that actually serves us? Let’s ditch the old tech and finally upgrade to a new, useful model.
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In summary, it’s easy to get stuck in the past, repeating old narratives that don’t serve us. By confronting those beliefs and choosing to embrace new ones, we can pave the way for a healthier, more fulfilling future. So, let’s kick that Betamax mentality to the curb!