Something Simple

Keep in mind, this article is only based on my ongoing knowledge within my degree, as I continue growing within this field, and the introspection of my inner world and outer world through this information.

We often lose sight of what's right in front of us. With so many distractions, many people don’t realize they aren’t facing their reality directly—I include myself in this.

As an undergraduate studying human consciousness and potential, my worldview is constantly changing. When my mindset shifts, my reactions to the world and myself change as well. During my personal reflections, I’ve noticed patterns not just in my own life, but in others’ lives too. When we become set in a particular way of thinking—believing this is how things will always be—we start to see the world through that limited lens. This focus influences our decisions, habits, and even what we are drawn to emotionally and visually. Once this focus becomes ingrained, it moves into our unconscious mind, eventually filtering through to the subconscious and conscious mind.

It’s like playing a video game where your character levels up based on experience, gaining new skills and abilities. Just like in Skyrim, where each completed mission upgrades your character’s skills, our minds adapt and grow based on the impressions we take in. These upgrades affect our reality, much like how new abilities are projected onto game characters.

We are continuously evolving, absorbing new impressions and projecting them onto our world. This process has incredible potential for positive growth, but we’ve also seen a negative spiral in society. The question is: what causes these negative shifts, and why does society seem to struggle with patterns of failure?

The answer lies in understanding how both our external environments and internal worlds shape each other. This idea is central to Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, which explains how we develop through interactions between our experiences and the world around us. This theory breaks down human development into five interconnected systems: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. Each system represents a layer of interaction between us and our environment.

Bronfenbrenner’s theory is often used to explain how outside forces—like family, community, and society—shape our growth. But it’s important to remember that the influence goes both ways. Our internal worlds, shaped by our earliest neurons, emotions, and experiences, also affect how we engage with the outer world. From birth, our brains begin forming neural connections based on our experiences, creating the foundation for how we perceive and interact with life. These internal impressions help shape our responses to the world, influencing our perceptions, decisions, and emotional reactions.

For example, neurons in the brain responsible for emotional regulation and response develop early in life. When children experience nurturing, they create strong, healthy neural pathways that allow them to regulate emotions and develop a positive worldview. However, when children experience neglect or trauma, different neural pathways form, reinforcing patterns of fear, mistrust, and emotional disconnection. These internal patterns influence how children see the world and respond to it, affecting their relationships, goals, and overall sense of reality.

Bronfenbrenner’s microsystem, the closest layer of a child’s environment, includes family, peers, and schools—key influences that shape these neural pathways. Let’s consider an extreme example of a child growing up in an abusive home. This child is told that adults are always right and that they must follow strict rules—such as going to church, picking a specific religion, and obeying elders. At a young age, they believe everything they are told. Unfortunately, many children experience abuse—sexual, physical, emotional, or all three.

In the microsystem, these early beliefs form, and if not challenged, the parent's focus and worldview are passed on to the child. This child, now hyper-aware and anxious, absorbs these early experiences as truth. They learn to distrust themselves and others but continue to move forward, interacting with the world through a lens of fear and mistrust.

As the child grows, they encounter the Mesosystem—relationships between the people in their immediate environment, like parents and teachers. If the child’s home life is chaotic, they may seek comfort in the wrong places, desperate for love and attention. Teachers may miss the signs of trauma, not realizing that this child is reaching out for help. The child may trust the wrong adult, further deepening their sense of betrayal and reinforcing harmful internal patterns.

Then comes the exosystem, where factors outside the child’s control, such as a parent’s work life, affect their development. Imagine this child’s parent working long hours, leaving the child feeling abandoned and hopeless. This feeling of abandonment becomes an internal filter, shaping the child’s perception of the world. They may view life as unsafe, full of pain and lack, which continues to impact their decisions and relationships.

Our internal worlds, shaped by experiences and neural development, project outward. Psychologists have found that emotional scars affect both the mind and body. When a child carries shame and pain without an outlet, these emotions shape their decisions, often leading them to repeat harmful cycles. This brings us to the Macrosystem, which includes cultural values, norms, and societal expectations. In a culture that emphasizes individual success, a child from a broken home may feel judged or excluded, reinforcing feelings of bitterness and hopelessness.

By the time this child reaches adulthood, their worldview—formed by both external influences and internal emotional responses—may lead them down a dark path. This is where the chronosystem comes into play. This system reflects how time and life events influence development. The child, now an adult, is at a breaking point. They may fall into self-destructive behavior, such as drug use or violence, further perpetuating the cycle of pain and disconnection. Without intervention, this cycle continues, with emotional wounds driving harmful actions that affect society as a whole.

The inner world influences the outer world just as much as the outer world shapes the inner. The bitterness and anger this individual feels toward society stems from internal emotional patterns formed in childhood, and it reflects outward in destructive ways. But this cycle isn’t unbreakable.

How can we, as a society, recognize and change these patterns? It starts with awareness—both of the external influences we face and the internal processes shaping our actions. We must ask ourselves: how far are we willing to go to create new patterns and break free from old ones? Change begins within each of us. While we may not control everything, we can control our responses and start a positive ripple effect.

One tool for breaking the cycle is meditation, specifically Transcendental Meditation. Meditation helps us connect to our inner world, bringing awareness and balance to our emotions and thoughts. It has been proven to heal emotional trauma and even reverse the physical effects of stress on the body. Along with other methods like art, music, and exercise, meditation can help individuals create a new internal filter—one based on peace, self-awareness, and healing.

For those without access to resources, meditation is free and accessible with the right guidance. By embracing this practice, society can begin to shift toward healing, offering hope for children and adults alike.

The children who are now seen as problems in society only ever wanted to be understood. Not everyone wants to be saved, but for those who do, there is hope. And that’s why I write—to bring light to those still searching for it.

Knocked Completely Out

Cited Sources

Exploring Your Mind. (2020). Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. Exploring Your Mind.https://exploringyourmind.com/bronfenbrenners-ecological-systems-theory/