The Voice, Biology Override and Bhagavad Gita 4:18
September 21, 2025
8 min read
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Newsletter
{Body}
The voice as complex instrument
Your vocal cords are made up of 17 intricate muscles, each one capable of precise independent adjustment to create an astounding range of sounds. In terms of flexibility and range, the human vocal apparatus is virtually unmatched in the animal kingdom (except, maybe for the lyrebird or mockingbird).
The vocal cord's adaptability allows them to create resonance with a vast array of objects and purposes. You can shatter a wine glass, soothe a crying baby, project your voice across a room, or even create overtones that seem to emanate from multiple sources simultaneously (PLEASE check out this YouTube video – absolutely wild what people can do).
When your vocal cords vibrate, they create resonance throughout your entire body, stimulating the vagus nerve through vibrations in your chest and throat. This vagal activation triggers your parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing inflammation, and supporting digestive function.
Humming, chanting, and toning create internal vibrations that massage your organs, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and can shift your brainwave patterns from stressed beta states to more relaxed alpha and theta frequencies.
{Mind}
Overriding biology
As a basic survival mechanism, organisms have evolved sophisticated ways to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The pigeon, the nematode, the human, even bacteria — all gravitate toward stimuli that promote survival and reproduction, and recoil from what threatens their well-being.
This approach/avoidance system served our ancestors well. Conserve energy when possible, seize immediate rewards, avoid pain — these impulses kept your great-great-great-great-x10,000…grandparents safe.
But what once protected us now sabotages us. The drive to avoid discomfort leads us away from the gym, difficult conversations, and necessary projects. The instinct for immediate pleasure pulls us toward dopamine hits from phones, processed foods, and celebrity drama.
Luckily, humans have developed sophisticated impulse control through our highly evolved prefrontal cortex. It is what gives you the ability to override your biological imperatives.
The entrepreneur trades leisure time for realizing their dream. The obsessed scientist skips social gatherings to discover a new scientific breakthrough. The peaceful martyr welcomes death if it means advancing their cause.
In other words, if you’re inspired enough, you can (and will) choose temporary discomfort for long-term benefit.
Yes, the biological drive for ease whispers convincing stories: "You've worked hard enough today." "You can start tomorrow." "This is too difficult." But these are just legacy code from the past; they needn’t control you.
The key is learning to distinguish between genuine resistance that serves growth and mere comfort-seeking that keeps you small. This requires developing awareness of your mental patterns — which is where meditation comes in!
Practice with me. Click below to listen to this week’s audio.
{Soul}
The electron tunnels. She does not wait for direction, nor pause to double check her trajectory. She listens deafly to mathematical law, mute, without preference.
The lion waits. He stops his breath as he studies his prey across the Savanna. He is like a coiled spring – inert, yet ready to unleash its potential energy at any time.
The duck glides. She is elegant and graceful across the surface of the water. Look underneath and discover her churning frantically to stay afloat.
The yogi sits. Perfectly still, frozen in padmāsana with eyes raised to the third eye center. And yet he is intensely active — aware of everything, the entire universe humming its great Ommmm as and through his being.
September 14, 2025
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