Wednesday 13 May 2015

Does Reality actually exist? Or is it all about Perception?

A few months ago there was a social media frenzy around a picture of a blue and black dress, or was it white and gold?  People were incensed, fascinated, and bewildered by how this was possible.  Then came all of the biological and scientific explanations, even I got caught up in trying to understand them (with much difficulty I might add!). But that is like using a 20 year old computer to run today’s programs and apps.  We currently use only a fraction of the computing power that our brain is capable of, so 20 years from now we will find these same “explanations” out dated.  In the end does it really matter if the dress was blue or black or white or gold? No it doesn’t, what seemed to matter most was who was right and who was wrong.  This was a good lesson for all of us in perception and our own need to be right or wrong.  When two people are in an argument often times we say, there is her side of the story, his side of the story and the facts.  But really what are the facts?  And who is going to decide what they are?  Again, whoever decides is using their “perception”.  So really are there any facts?  Does a one Reality actually exist?  I don’t have the answer, sorry, but I think it is time we challenged this concept.  I believe the first step is challenging our own belief’s and concepts about ourselves.  I started this process some weeks back when I decided to “renounce my self image and release all of the ideas and concepts I had about myself and just be” (see my post on Self Image – March 20 2015).  What I discovered is that not only did it open me up to new ideas and concepts about myself but it also opened me up to seeing other people’s perspective. Through my new found awareness, I began to understand how I had created the ideas and concepts about myself; based on my own past conditioning, and was then able to see how others had done it as well. What I conceived as “reality” was only my perception and I now know that can be changed.  Just like it was when I was sure the dress was white and gold until I saw the blue and black one on Ellen!!

And so I challenge you to give some consideration to what you believe is your reality or thee reality.  Could it just be your perception? Are you willing to let down your guard enough to consider some one else’s perspective?  You don’t have to agree or disagree with it but at the very least can you try and understand it? Maybe start with yourself as I did, challenge some of your own concepts and ideas about yourself.  Growth and progress are only possible when we challenge what we believe to be real, ask any innovator.  Be the innovator or your own life and let’s see what you can come up with!

I look forward to hearing what you discover!!