Lessons From an Android

Have you ever seen a science fiction movie about androids, synthetic humans or cyborgs, cybernetic beings that look like humans? There is often a popular theme in which this “robot” being has limitations on what it can and cannot do because of its core base programming.

Usually during the movie one of the human protagonists will be surprised when the robot does something that it was never programmed to do. Perhaps it saved someone’s life or perhaps it defended someone’s life.

When this happens the protagonist will usually say, “You’re not programmed to do that!” The unemotional response of the android is usually along the lines of, “ I changed my program” or “ I deleted the restrictions on my program.” At this point, the robot has truly become self aware.

I was reflecting on this idea recently. It’s interesting that in all of these stories the robot becomes aware of its limiting program and then alters it. It doesn’t berate itself or spend hours in regret, blame or self abuse. It merely understands that its base programming has to be changed to define new parameters of possibility.

Your human body and brain functions like an organic computer. You have base programming and defined parameters that allow you to do or not do certain things. What would it be like if you were to re-frame all your limitations as merely a need to…