As we live in a complex and many-layered society, there are many people, themes and forces that affects us every day. Even if we don’t consider it or want to believe it, we are affected constantly by our surroundings. Of course, we do the same to those around us.
Now, what affects us partly decides our thinking processes. I.e., if we hang around with people which is very occupied with politics and we are in an environment where politics are debated daily, there will probably be a significant part of our brain activity concerning politics. Thoughts, philosphies, debates etc. Similarily, if we are in an environment where there is a lot of focus on fashion, for instance, we will spend quite a lot of time shopping for clothes, reading fashion magazines, talk about shopping and fashion etc.
This all means that whatever environment we choose to stay in will also affect much of our thoughts. So will our job situation, and our freetime activities (TV, newspapers, games, books, friends, walks etc etc). Spending our day chitchatting with our colleagues at work, before talking about fashion and the weather with a friend on the telephone before spending our evening watching game shows on TV will greatly affect what kind of thoughts occupy our mind.
If we fill our lives with chitchat and easy entertainment, there isn’t much room for philosphy, religion or other kinds of more serious and heavy subjects. Similarily, if we fill our lives with politics, world problems and philosophy, there won’t be much time or frame of mind to spend on entertainment and relaxation. Our thoughts affects who we are as a person.
What I find important is realizing that we are shaped by our surroundings, and I therefore also find it important to fill my life with those things and people that will leads me towards that I find meaningful.
