Epigenetics

/
 

This weekend I visited a cemetery where four generations of my relatives are buried. (Photo from Homestead Cemetery in the Flint Hills of Chase County, Kansas.)

I watched my mother tell my children the stories of each generation, much like my grandfather did with me. There are stories of wars, diseases, horrific accidents, and tragedies. There are also stories of marriages, miracles, and fond memories. Generation after generation, we come back to remember our ancestors and tell these same stories. 

As I stood at my grandparents' graves, I thought about all they experienced in their lives and wondered what they would think about all that is happening in our world now.

As I thought about what each generation endured, I was struck at how their experiences live on in us. I thought about what my grandparents taught me and what advice they would have for me today. 

There is a relatively new area of science called Epigenetic Research which fascinates me. A simple explanation of this is: the lives of your ancestors are imprinted upon your DNA. The stress they endured, the choices they made, their experiences, their worries, even their mindset and thinking made a mark on your DNA and you carry it with you today. Scientists are looking at what biological markers (what happens in your life) cause genes to switch on or off and how that switch is then passed to your children in their DNA structure.

A simple way I could understand is this example: a relative who lived through the Great Depression with deep financial stress may show up in you as an irrational fear of running out of money. As a coach, I consider this sometimes when a client can't find any cause of their deep fear or behavioral tendencies. 

To better understand ourselves, it helps to consider the generations that came before us and what they experienced. The practice below will prompt you to consider how have been shaped by prior generations. If you were adopted and do not know your biological ancestry, consider the influence of the people in your adopted or foster families. Their experiences shaped you, which imprints the DNA you pass on to your children. Here is a five minute explanation of Epigenetics from TEDed if you are interested in knowing more about the science. 

Learning from Ancestors
Which family members from a prior generation do I admire most? 

  • What do I admire about them?

  • How are we similar in our personalities, motivations, and desires?

  • How do I imagine they would guide me today? 

Which family members had the greatest influence upon me? 

  • What am I grateful for learning from them?

  • How did they teach me this?

  • Where do I see their influence in my life today?

As I think back a few generations, what themes do I see?

  • What have these generations survived?

  • What brought them joy?

  • What would they want their legacy to be?

  • How would they want me to live my life?

As we continue this introspective time of social distancing, pause to consider what you carry on from the generations who came before you. And then, become intentional about living life from a place of self-awareness, interconnectedness, and endless hope. 

Sending you love and peace,