Humans are just one of innumerable forms of energy within the stream that is reality. The nature of this existence is awareness. Awareness is the seamless integration of perceptual and conceptual-based biological representational systems. It involves the direct processing of sensory data (perception) as well as the manipulation of abstractions based on this data (conception). The outcome is instinct, intuition, intellection and action - collectively known as mind. Therefore, reality is literally the functioning of mind.
Awareness is the direct, immediate experience of reality here and now. Reality is concrete; it is not an abstraction. It is always present, moment to moment, but habitual preoccupation with the conceptual distracts us from this direct experience. Getting back in touch with reality requires full engagement with the here and now. This requires recognizing when we become preoccupied with the conceptual, losing touch with concrete reality in the process. Awareness is direct experience. Before we go further, it is important to point out that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the conceptual. The ability to create and manipulate abstractions, for example science and sociocultural conventions, provides the framework for modern existence. However, these abstractions are not concrete reality, and they have the potential to interfere with the appropriate expression of health and wellbeing. This does not mean that we should abandon them altogether. On the contrary, when mind is functioning as designed we can determine the appropriateness of each abstraction, moment to moment, choosing to act upon it or not. The outcome is what is known as “wisdom.” Wisdom is the ability to think and act appropriately using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. It is complete awareness, which is the appropriate functioning of mind. The appropriate functioning of mind reveals truth. Truth is that which is in accord with reality. It is not just what we understand through conventional knowledge. This kind of knowledge is conceptual; it’s theoretical understanding. Truth is both conceptual and perceptual – it’s complete. It is experience, and the only way to thoroughly realize truth is through action. Action and reality are one. The point of the Human by Design system is reality-based action. Implementing the system involves taking a close look at all the knowledge that we have accumulated up to this point. We must accept that any understanding not involving direct experience is abstraction, not reality. This is not to say that knowledge is inherently good or bad. However, we must be careful with what we “know.” Is it true? Knowledge is conceptual, and it has no basis in reality. Immediate experience, here and now, is reality. Ultimately, we must realize this for ourselves through action.
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We are designed to express a particular body composition. Body composition is the percentage of bone, organs, muscle and fat that composes an organism. Based on these anatomical features, body composition can be very individualistic. However, our bodies are designed to be relatively lean. This particular body composition was a function of the ancestral foraging strategy, which required high levels of physical activity and resulted in the ingestion of high quality food sources.
A general tool for determining body composition is the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated as your weight (kg) divided by your height (meters) squared. Unfortunately BMI does not account for individuals who possess proportionally more or less muscle mass. However, it is an appropriate place to start when discussing optimal body composition. What does BMI tell us about our body composition as it relates to function? Ancestral and historic humans were very lean and had BMI’s in the range of 13 to 19. Even though a BMI between 13 and 19 is ideal, this range is out of reach for most individuals. Science and experience has revealed that BMI’s in the range of 20 to 25 are appropriate for optimal health and wellbeing. BMI’s within 26 to 30 are considered overweight, 31 to 35 obese, and over 35 morbidly obese. BMI's over 30 are associated with a significant decline in overall health and wellbeing. In general, the lower the BMI the better our bodies function. A functional body composition includes an optimal ratio of muscle and fat. Muscle is designed for the production of movement, while fat is designed for energy storage. We know that ancestral humans displayed significant amounts of muscle mass and a low levels of body fat. They maintained a consistent amount of muscle mass due to their foraging strategy. However, their body fat percentage fluctuated within a particular range based on the availability of food sources, which was rarely abundant. This particular body composition is associated with optimal health and wellbeing. We can restore this body composition through appropriate physical activity and the ingestion of high quality food sources. Health is the metabolic efficiency of a living organism. It is associated with a state of appropriate anatomical and physiological functioning. When we think of health we tend to frame it in terms of its opposite state; the state of dis-ease. This is a state that is associated with inappropriate anatomical and physiological functioning. However, health is not just the absence of disease - it is the capability of an organism for complete and appropriate functioning without disease. Health is a product of our design, which means we can restore it.
Health is an important component of our existence. However, there is something just as important, and perhaps even more so. This aspect of our existence is known as wellbeing. While health is more objective, wellbeing is more subjective. It is a concept that is inclusive of physical health but integrates every other every other aspect of individual existence. Wellbeing is associated with the quality of relationships, positive emotions, resilience and the realization of potential. This comprehensive bio-psycho-social perspective takes into consideration how healthy, comfortable, successful and happy one is with their particular existence. Since each of us has our own particular definition of what existence should entail, a more utilitarian explanation of wellbeing would be how content one is with their existence. From this perspective, wellbeing is the product of the interaction between design and environment. This means it can be restored. Health and wellbeing may be considered individualistically, but they are not mutually exclusive. An individual may be completely healthy without experiencing wellbeing and vice-versa. You could be healthy but not have any friends or be unsuccessful with all pursuits in your life. Conversely, you could be wealthy, successful and be surrounded by wonderful people but suffer from addiction or have a debilitating disease. What we are seeking is the “sweet spot” of existence. How do we define that? Throughout human history a complete existence, one characterized by both health and wellbeing, has been defined as “the good life.” This is essentially an optimal existence. Optimal is the most favorable result obtainable under certain conditions - doing the best one can with what one has. Human by Design defines optimal health and wellbeing as a complete existence characterized by both appropriate physiological functioning and biopsychosocial contentment. Since we possess the same design, we all have the same potential for this experience. The expression of this potential requires approximating certain conditions associated with our Pleistocene existence. This is the key to the Human by Design system. Human by Design is a system that restores optimal health and wellbeing through reality-based principles, practices and methods. This is perhaps the defining characteristic of the system. There are real limits associated with certain aspects of our health and wellbeing. This includes the genes that we were born with and the environmental conditions that we are exposed to. However, just because there are limitations and obstacles, this doesn’t mean that we are doomed to an unhealthy and discontented existence. On the contrary, we can fully express whatever potential we may have in spite of the conditions that are available to us. In fact it is our ability to creatively shape existence, based on our circumstances, which makes our species unique. This potential can be maximized through implementing reality-based principles, practices and methods associated with this system. |
AuthorSeth Clayton is the creator of the Human by Design System. He is a human from Charlotte, NC who is interested in helping you achieve optimal health and wellbeing through the avenues of Zen Buddhism, Functional Movement and Paleolithic Nutrition. Archives
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