Thread by @existentialgrin

Dissatisfaction is the result of a few deep understandings being violated.

We build these deep understandings slowly and methodically over time, which is why it’s so jarring when we realize how fragile they truly are.

The process typically goes:
1. observation of a phenomenon
2. deduction of a pattern/rule
3. intention (emotional coding)
4. action, which can be broken down into verbal, cognitive, physical, and/or interpersonal action

This process, repeatedly over time, tends to lead to the final (most potent) form of a belief: integration into the subconscious

At this point you can think of a belief as having gone through some sort of alchemical process. Going from an inherently* meaningless process to a meaningful one.

*inherently can be swapped with previously if it makes you more comfortable

Meaning is also an interesting phenomenon. If we take a look at the neurochemistry behind meaningful experiences, they tend to show a high correlation with the brain releasing high levels of dopamine or serotonin.

We can say that these chemicals help build and promote the function of the neural pathway associated with certain beliefs (all of which are resultant of some form of the above stated process).

Something to know about dopamine and serotonin: Like any other chemical that affects brain function, their effects tend to wear off as the pathway loses novelty.

What is a poor brain to do at this point? Keep sending reward chemicals to pathways that aren’t rewarding? Well, what do you do when you get bored? You find something new. The key is that these specific chemicals capitalize on novel, or at least rare, experiences.

Bringing this all back to the way beliefs are formed: these chemicals are also released during times of ideological novelty. Think about the last big paradigm-shifting realization you came to...

Maybe you realized pineapples really do belong on pizza. Maybe you realized that football players really do hate America if they refuse to stand for the national anthem. Maybe you realized that your realizations are just chemical processes in your brain. I don’t know

The point is, after a while, the reward-wells of these beliefs tend to run dry, and so you work to keep them sustainable by only engaging with them every so often.

You go about your days knowing that this pathway is safe, coming to trust your belief process, eventually integrating this belief into the basic function of your daily life. Aka, integrating the belief into your subconscious.

After seeing how deep understandings and beliefs are coded, you can begin to understand what it means when something contradicts them.

Because it’s no longer just about the belief. Contradictions appear to threaten not only the belief, but the entire framework under which the belief was formed. Or at least that’s how most people on the internet tend to take it*.

To use an earlier example: you may suddenly discover that pineapple on pizza is somehow not good for you any more. You have to wonder, what is it that you were putting into your body before you became aware that it was bad for you?

What about the people who you shared pineapple pizza with? The people who pushed you to try it? What about the people who knew and didn’t say anything? Should you say something about it to anyone? The entire framework comes into question.

Pizza-topping-related conflicts are pretty simply resolved, but imagine if the truth in question was bigger. Or imagine if it was fully integrated into the subconscious? How hard would you have to work to remove that pathway?

Anyway, all of this is to remind you that beliefs are fake, people are real, and you get to pick which one you care about more, so choose wisely!

*in my experience lol. You can see how even “truth” has no anchor given the chain is followed down far enough.