We are more than just a collection of cells and matter – but our physical reality may be better
designed for unity and cooperation than we imagine. Given the day that’s in it, I thought the video below might be a good way to honour the many millions of people who have suffered – and still suffer – as a result of our collective failure to learn how to live together.
Jeremy Rifkin describes here how, contrary to what we believe about our species, we are physically designed to work together. It’s very informative (and mostly about the brain!)
I heard about mirror neurons a couple of months ago and found the study results quite promising ~ our mirror neurons encourage us to be kind and compassionate.
Why We Don’t Need God To Be Good:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-matousek/you-dont-need-god-to-be-g_b_854870.html?ref=fb&src=sp
With the discovery of mirror neurons by Italian neuroscientist Giaccomo Rizzolatti in the 1990s, we now have physiological proof of why — and how — our species became hard-wired for goodness.
Mirror neurons are miraculous cells in the brain whose sole purpose is to harmonize us with our environments. By reflecting the outside world inward, we actually become each other — a little bit; neurologically changed by what is happening around us.
Mirror neurons are the reason that we have empathy and can feel each other’s pain. It is because of mirror neurons that you blush when you see someone else humiliated, flinch when someone else is struck, and can’t resist the urge to laugh when seeing a group struck with the giggles. (Indeed, people who test for “contagious yawning” tend to be more empathic.) These tiny mirrors are the key to most things noble and good inside us.
BTW: I ended up watching 6 or 7 RSA animations after watching this one. They are full of food for thought.
I love those RSA animations – did you watch the Ken Robinson one?
Yes ~ on education, right?
I think I’m going to share a few of them on my blog in the coming days/weeks . . . with a link back/shout out to your post.
OK by you?
That’s the one. Great idea to share them on your blog – I am always delighted to see great ideas disseminated. (But how kind of you to ask me!)
Wonderful.
I feel the same . . . spread all the love, laughter, and wisdom you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can.