When you refrain from dreaming big because ‘reality’ claims there are only a lucky few and you do not fall into that category;
Or you don’t go on that date because ‘reality’ says there are no ‘good’ men or women out there for a single divorcee like you;
Or you have to work really hard in your mediocre life because ‘reality’ assures life is a struggle and nothing is for free;
Or you don’t trust anyone because reality suggests everyone is an asshole and invested in self;
Or you have a hard time rising above your depression because reality taught you the world is scary and life sucks;
Or you don’t take that opportunity because the reality of your life is you’re just not good, smart, lucky, talented or appealing enough – you are exercising beliefs that remain true in your experience.
Seems like reality is one opinionated sourpuss. But we listen intently because unfortunately, it tends to bring along all its facts and evidence; thus, all of that which we understand about reality is accepted as truth.
Yet, many would frustratingly say, ‘But this is reality!’
We love to argue our positions with such conviction as if our experiences are justification enough of how it is. And the more people we find sharing the same view, the stronger and more believable this reality becomes.
But what is reality? How do we define what’s real?
We understand reality as a collection of that which is existent based on physical, sensory experience; as opposed to that which is imagery. Therefore, anything we see, hear, taste, touch, smell or feel is evidence it exits.
However, a quote from the Matrix movie expressed by Morpheus: “If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then ‘real’ is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain” – may not be too far from the truth.
We believe there must be more to what we physically experience than merely electrical signals interpreted by our brain. Surely there must be more to: smelling a flower, watching a sunset, hearing a siren or burning our hand on a hot stove, than minimizing these experiences to electrical brain signals.
We equate and accept reality as part of the majority view; in order to rule out subjective hallucinations. On the other hand, are hallucinations different to any other physical experience or imaginary standard?
A vivid dream could seem ‘real’ based on our virtual sensory experience. It may FEEL just as real comparable to someone with hallucinations or ‘real’ life experiences.
Therefore, in order to eliminate any misconception about our realities, we rely heavily upon the agreement of others. When others also see and hear what we do, it validates its existence. Our agreement upon things keeps it feeling safe because we are not having solo experiences – even though our individual experiences are distinctly unique.
The coffee cup we hold is real because it is tangible and the sensory experience of it proves that it exists. In addition to, when observed by others, it verifies its actuality. If we were to understand our coffee cup scientifically and strip away layers, we’ll find that not only is it mostly empty space, it is merely particles held together by forces that produce this tangible object.
In fact, every process in the universe can be reduced to interactions between particles. Hence, there must be some sort of agreement for such forces to maintain unity and matter.
It also draws the question: are we too particles united by concurrence and cooperation of this fantastic creation called reality?
‘Reality is an illusion; albeit a persistent one’, spoken by Albert Einstein is one we find difficulty wrapping our minds around. How can what we physically experience be fake? Clearly, our collective physical sensory experiences and emotional responses of joy, love, struggle, pain and disappointment are evidential facts of reality. Or are they?
If reality is merely an illusion, what’s the purpose of this life? Well it certainly would change our perspective and maybe we wouldn’t feel so guilty eating that ‘fake’ donut!
Nevertheless, there is a naïve view that an external reality exists independently of our observations. This would suggest that things happen to us out of our control or influence. It is also why we are so often stuck in survival mode; hoping for the best, expecting the worst and always being as best prepared for the unexpected.
Additionally, whether we see the cup half full, half empty or question the existence of the cup altogether there is truth in it all. There is always truth in what we perceive.
Perception is translation of energy meshed with pattern/habit of thought and beliefs that continue to become evident through experiences.
It is also opinion – heavily influenced and saturated in others’ views and adopted as personal belief. Opinions derive from beliefs and beliefs are merely practiced thoughts. Therefore, opinions could not be brushed off as vague, lightweight views. They are real consequently due to our experiences.
Whether we view our economy flourishing or decomposing, they are equally true as they are untrue and we will inevitably have the experience of them. A great politician could easily flip flop between views according to which side or position he may be taking and dependent upon which argument would most benefit his current stance.
Our experiences will mirror perspectives. It is not possible to believe the world is an ugly, scary place and see beauty. It is not possible to experience joy through sadness or abundance through lack.
Every experience is a collection of our observations and attention to specific subjects and beliefs. Our world will look, sound, feel and taste exactly as it is perceived. How we perceive the world and everything in it will be experienced by only us. Therefore, different perspectives lead to completely different experiences of the reality we accept as truth. Since every experience could be argued as evidence, then every experience reserves the right as truth.
If it can be imagined, then it is enough to bring every imagined, perceived or believed thought to life. When we have lived our beliefs in our minds so vividly, it is certain that it shows itself into our experience – after all, we have demanded it through our stubborn focus and expectancy.
Whenever we refer to our realities, we are inadvertently observing our past and anyone else’s past that may reflect our perspective. However, the past is only the residue and echo of our previous thoughts, beliefs and emotions.
The past is not our reality. Our reality is where we are now in relationship to where our thoughts, beliefs and emotions are held. Having experienced what we have created thus far, we begin to believe in the manifestations of our experiences without the full understanding that we are the creators of them.
We spend so much time in our imagined fantasies, crafting and molding every detail into realistic perfection that we have come to believe in them as the only existing truth.
When we realize we are the Masterful Creators, artists and inventors of this beautiful reality, we can stop looking over our shoulder into our past and focus on what we want our future to look like.
The past does not predict our future; it is only the remains of what was. It holds form of the stories we once told. These stories are the truth of yesterday. Our future depends on how we feel right now, what we are thinking right now and what we are imagining and believing right now. Since ‘now’ never ceases to exist and now is all we have, our most dominant continued thoughts, beliefs and emotions that are present in our ‘now’ mold our future – our next moment of reality.
Of course, it is difficult to admit that reality is part of our past when we look at our current financial status, barely making ends meet and unable to feed our children much less take them on vacation. And we proclaim, ‘this is my reality!’ – a single mother trying to singlehandedly make ends meet, suffocating in debt, fear and exhaustion.
While we can acknowledge that situations we are currently in will not change overnight, the step toward this amendment can change RIGHT NOW simply by redirecting our thoughts and focus.
We NEVER have to worry about how all the details will fall into place. We need only to trust that they will. Trusting for an unknown shift to happen can seem bogus. Trust won’t put food on the table but it will change our attitude and get food on that table quicker than the sour, negative one we indefinitely linger in. This confident attitude will immediately generate positive energy and of course it will attract like energy and situations.
Luckily, it is not our responsibility to have it all figured out.
We do not need to know when, where or how we will meet our future love; we need only know that s/he will show up. They will not show up when we are feeling pessimistic, grumpy and full of attitude nor would we want them to. The meeting will happen when one least expects because ‘when we least expect’ is usually about the only small crack of time we unintentionally let go of the tight hold of our pessimistic beliefs that keep him/her at bay.
Often, we prefer not to show or entertain optimism because we do not want to fall victim of disappointment. It is easier to linger in disappointment by choice than to be pushed into it by our perceived ‘realities’. Unfortunately, disappointment will breed disappointment and until we realize that the sun will shine on us when we step out of our covered shelters and into the light, the quicker we can begin to have fun with life.
We need only to focus, imagine, dream and feel as vividly as we can of that which we desire and allow the details to work themselves out. Don’t let the details of what currently is be the thing that makes us stumble.
We are not following a path – we are the path!
Vacations are generally mood lifters for even the most pessimistic among us. However, upon return of almost every vacation someone has taken, there is the famous shared view, all too familiar ‘back to reality’ comment. Many people often label this type of joy and liberation as a ‘vacation high’ that eventually dims as we rest our feet back into the quicksand of this thing called ‘reality’.
Vacations bring out our excitement, elevate our curiosity and preparedness for fun. We feel more alive and more energized. We are not caught in the routine of things; the routine of negative habits and thoughts that exhaust our physical bodies, cramp our emotions and stunt our imagination. We are not desperate for deep sleep to quiet or drown annoying, stubborn chatter. The majority of our time is spent outside as we move through exploration, appreciation, curiosity and gratitude.
When the many layers of negative beliefs are peeled away, we begin to see and feel the very things our souls embrace. We feel the essence of our true selves without all the resistance and burdens we like to carry. We feel light, joyous, playful and eager for life.
It is not our realities that change this uplifting mood into a sour one; it is our perspectives that change because we willingly pick up the very thoughts we initially left behind.
It is not routines or responsibilities that bog us down, rather our lack of focus on fun. This vacation high could last as long as we maintain the momentum of joy and do not rely on the conditions for our happy.
Our present moment is right now, right now, right now, right now. If every second for a solid minute we were thinking about how unlucky we are and for a minute we focused on the things in life we observed that we believe have made us unlucky, we would begin to feel the emotions of unlucky. And for every minute, hour or day we spend re-telling this story, imagine how ‘big’ this repetitive thinking and emotional energy can become.
The initial experience of our thoughts is emotional. The full experience of our realities is within our minds first. The physical manifestation of these thoughts and perceptions is merely the salt and pepper to an already prepared meal. What we observe remains an observation until we have an opinion about it. This opinion becomes our experience, reality and truth.
When we focus on that which we want, we move toward it. When we focus on that which we do not want, we move toward it. Perceptions and beliefs influence our direction. Either way, our thoughts, actions and emotions will become the evidential experience of our realities.
Avoid observing the world with the same opinionated eyes and repeating history. What feels, looks, sounds current or real now should not dictate what the future will be much less be the truth baring example. These realities came to be due to the powerful magic of creation.
Everything is expanding and coming together with greater love, health, strength and power than ever before. We need only to adjust our inner focus so that we may see this clarity. We need only to shift our perspective so that we may experience the reality we desire.
If this life is truly our fantasy made reality, wouldn’t it’s be wise to imagine something we would thoroughly enjoy?
We are always and foremost consciousness; aware and observant of our surroundings.
And we are Masterful Creators that generate energy through our stories, visions and explicit focus; producing manifested experiences of that which we give our undivided attention to.
The rest is simply a version of our realities through our own personal interpretations and perspectives.
If you are not satisfied with your current reality, then dive deep into your fantasy and come up when you have found a better one!