How We Disrespect Biology With Language


Category: Insight
How We Disrespect Biology With Language

Biology.

[bahy-ol-uh-jee]

1. the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, especially with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.

2. the living organisms of a region.

3. the biological phenomena characteristic of an organism or a group of organisms. 

Dictionary.com defines our biology. This is the agreed upon definition by our group.

And yet, more often than not, it is still not understood.

I can look around at who we are as a people and I don't see us honoring biology.

I don't see us honoring the most real and tangible parts of who we are. 

Instead, I see people pointing to identity.

I see us either giving strength to the power in one's identity. 

Or I see us calling out the darkest parts of one's identity.

But what if this has nothing to do with identity?

What if it's not about being something accepted or unaccepted? 

What if it's about the collection of biological processes and habits that make someone who they are... 

What if we start there.

It's easy to use language to pull at the strings of what is often most understood by the majority. 

We can say an entrepreneur is anxious with low self-esteem and lacks confidence. 

Or we can say someone has a biological sensitivity and tends to have difficulty coping with sensory overload.

We can say an entrepreneur is ADD and stays very busy and has trouble focusing.

Or we can say someone has a collection of learned habits that do not serve them.

We can say entrepreneurs often deal with depression and high stress. 

Or we can say that someone's body gives them indicators when it is not being honored. 

What if dishonoring our biology is at the root of every man-made label that we use to define a behavior? 

Instead of solving challenges with more knowledge...

What if we focused on more listening to the body? 

Perhaps that is mindfulness. 

A way of being with the mind and using language to connect to the body.

I often hear those who misunderstand this the most write it off as being "fluffy" or "woo-woo" ... but what if the answer lives not in the endless fixation of the mind but in the billions of cells that make our physical being?

After all, the body owns the mind.

And the body will always force the surrender when disrespected. 

I wonder what our world would look like if we honored this dynamic and saw it for what it is.


By Matthew Gallizzi. Consultant. Thinking Partner. Strategic Advisor. He believes our language creates our world. He equips business leaders as they live into their future vision.

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