Are you, you?

What Makes You You? What Is the Brain? And Is That Voice in Your Head Really Yours?

Have you ever paused for a moment and asked, “Who am I?” Not just your name or job or what you like—but that deep, core sense of you. The one who thinks, feels, questions. The one who’s always “there,” behind your thoughts. And while we’re at it—what about that voice in your head? Is that really you talking?

To answer that, we have to look at the one thing that ties it all together: the brain.

What Is the Brain?

The brain is a three-pound network of around 86 billion neurons, making trillions of connections. It runs your whole life. It keeps your body alive, helps you learn, feel, remember, and imagine. It’s more powerful than any supercomputer, and yet… it feels personal. It’s not just processing data—it’s where you live.

But here’s where things get strange.

Your Brain Acts Before You Do

One of the most mind-blowing facts about the brain is this: studies show your brain makes decisions before you become aware of them. In some experiments, scientists can predict what choice a person will make seconds before they consciously make it.

So what does that mean? Are you not in control?

Not exactly. Think of it this way: your brain is doing a ton of behind-the-scenes work—processing, analyzing, calculating—before your conscious mind gets the final say. You feel like you made the decision in the moment, but your brain had already started preparing for it.

In a sense, you are both the decision-maker and the one observing those decisions unfold. You are the thinker and the thought.

Is That Voice in Your Head Really You?

You’ve heard it—the inner voice that narrates, questions, dreams, replays awkward moments from five years ago, and sings that one annoying song on loop. It’s your internal monologue.

And yes, that voice is you—but it’s only one part of you.

That voice reflects your past, your beliefs, your emotions. Sometimes it mimics other people’s voices—parents, teachers, or anyone who’s left a mark on you. It may even talk in different tones depending on your mood. But all of that is coming from your brain’s processing—your learned experiences, stored memories, and emotional responses.

And beyond that voice, there’s something deeper. The part of you that hears the voice. That quietly observes. That knows when something feels right or wrong even if you can’t explain why. That’s you, too.

So… What Makes You, You?

It’s not just your body. Not just your brain’s wiring. It’s your memories, your emotions, your decisions—even the ones made before you realize you’re making them. It’s your conscious thoughts and your unconscious instincts. Your inner voice and the quiet awareness behind it.

You are the product of everything you’ve seen, felt, and survived. A mix of biology, experience, and mystery.

And somehow, through all of that, there’s this sense of self—this feeling of being you—that persists.

Final Thought

So next time you catch yourself in your own head—thinking, feeling, talking to yourself—remember: that voice is yours. Your brain might be making moves before you’re aware of them, but that doesn’t make you less you. It makes you human. A complex, beautiful, unpredictable human being.

And that’s kind of incredible.