Have you ever wondered how your life experiences can impact your quality of life, your health and wellbeing, not just for you but for your future generations? 🤔
We think it's a fascinating question! Did you know that answers lie in the exciting field of epigenetics, so let's explore together!
At coachio, we're passionate about empowering you to take control of your life, your Self-Mastery and your wellbeing to achieve optimal-functioning in life. Understanding key concepts and principles relevant to your own Self-Mastery will help you on this journey!
By understanding epigenetics you can begin to unlock new insights and possibilities for your own personal-growth.
We believe the study, understanding and application of some simple principles of epigenetics into your own life; can help you create positive ripple effects for your future generations.
Before we start exploring epigentics, let's first define in simple terms what a gene is!
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Heredity as defined by the Oxford Dictionary (2025), means "the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another."
Genes are made up of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.
Some genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins, which are needed for the body to function. However, many genes do not code for proteins, instead they help control other genes, which leads us into epigenetics.
Epigenetics could be described as the control layer overlaying your genes. 🧬
It involves the scientific study of how your behaviours and environment can cause changes that affect the ways in which your genes function.
Think of epigenetics like this:
Imagine your genes are a light switch with a dimmer. 💡
Epigenetics can turn those switches on or off, or even dim them up or down, without changing the actual wiring to the light switch itself. Make sense?
For centuries, scientists have debated whether our traits and behaviours are primarily determined by our genes (nature) or by our environment (nurture).
Epigenetics offers a fascinating new perspective:
Well, it's not just one or the other, it's both!
Our genes provide the blueprint, but our experiences and environment can influence how that blueprint is expressed.
Therefore creating the right environments and experiences for ourselves and those around us becomes even more critical for us in our lives!
This means you can begin to have even more control over your life, your health, personal Self-Mastery and wellbeing than you might previously have thought was possible! 💪
A meta-analysis of twin studies by Vukasović and Bratko (2015) found that on average, 40% of the variation in personality traits across individuals can be attributed to genetic differences.
Ok, but what does this actually mean? Well it means:
- That whilst on average 40% of your personality is determined by your inherited genes...
- The remaining 60% is determined by your environment and behaviours, i.e. your upbringing, family, friends, perceived life experiences and life-challenges, alongside your own ability to choose and impact change in your life on these variables!
Some important points to note here are: - When you can expand and improve your Self-awareness sufficiently to gain new insights and perspectives in your life. Then you're in pole-position to take back informed and full ownership of what we term your personal-attributes; i.e. your thoughts, core-values, beliefs, biases, emotions, behaviours and actions.
- This form of Self-determination empowers you to choose proactive and positive change in your environments and experiences, taking them in the directions you wish to move them.
- Taking informed ownership of your choices can help you begin positive transformation of your epigenome, with positive impacts on your quality of life for you and those around you!
How, we hear you ask?coachio can help! Our comprehensive Digital Self-Mastery coaching programs will guide you through a data-driven coaching process to support you in mapping out and benchmarking your Personal-Attributes, we call this Personal-Attribute benchmarking.
We do this using our FIT Model and HHUHI (Hybrid, Holistic, Universal, Humanistic and Iterative) approach to, coaching, focusing on your 5-core life-domains.
Here are a few tips for you to review yourself right now...
So let's get some of the technical jargon out the way:
There are two main ways that epigenetics can affect your gene's expression:
- DNA Methylation: This is like adding a sticky note to a gene, which can tell your body to ignore it or read it differently. 📝
- Chromatin Modification: This is like changing the way your DNA is packaged, which can affect how accessible your genes are to be read. 📦
Remember, that on average 60% of your epigenetic expression is malleable, i.e. upon you reaching independent adulthood, the science states that you will have more control and a direct ability to start impacting your environments and your own behaviours!
However, to successfully start that process, you must first be aware that it's possible! Then seek out the right resources, methods and tools to master the relevant component parts!
Here are some critical factors for you to consider: 🤓
Critical to any future impact you may have on your own epigenetic expressions; is developing your Self-Awareness!
- Self-awareness is the first step to Self-Mastery and starts with understanding and mastering your Personal-Attributes.
- Evolving your Self-awareness empowers you with the ability for objective critical thought and reflection; to consciously choose personal change.
- Empower yourself with control of your future in a direction that's authentically aligned with who you are. Helping you transform your environments and behaviours, towards achieving your desired goals and outcomes.
Want to explore Self-awareness in more detail, see links at the end of this blog!
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