Artful Dodger: That I can only truthfully answer by stating... it depends on how aware you are. Classic Judaism talks about Yetzer Hara(ra) and the Yetzer Hatoz(toz). The two impulses that drive us through life. Yetzer Hara being a force that exists from birth, it gives us the drive to have children, to build, to engage in business. Unchecked, it can lead to rape, murder and other sinful activities. In itself it is not evil, but without conciousness it can be. lamon's example of the salmon would be of this force, not concious, just doing what is best for the survival of the species.

Yetzer Hatoz is the good inclination, the awareness that only begins to develop when a person reaches their teens. it is supposed to allow us to be able to rise above the physical and give us a choice to be able to control ourselves and practice free will.

...this guy explains it well.
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, wrote in Derech Hashem ("The Way of God") that "Man is the creature created for the purpose of being drawn close to God. He is placed between perfection and deficiency, with the power to earn perfection. Man must earn this perfection, however, through his own free will...Man's inclinations are therefore balanced between good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa), and he is not compelled toward either of them. He has the power of choice and is able to choose either side knowingly and willingly..."

...... You'll find similar in the Chakra system that comes from Buddhism regarding this, or again going back to Judaism the 10 Sefirot. Such as the Desert Fathers practised something called Hesychasm to bring themselves into 'stillness and silence', to go beyond the realm of physical ruling ones actions.

Make any sense?? :P