"Reality" is what you make it.

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One of the most frequently read articles on this blog is "What is being sentient like for you?", It is consistently one of the top 2 posts. Briefly it deals with the idea that each individual's experience of self may differ quite a bit from one person to the next, much more than is generally perceived by society. I don't think the universal human experience exists, and further each person's "reality" is what they make it, moment to moment.

The intriguing aspect is, we all get caught up in our own realities and there is a tendency to just follow whatever storyline is created. For example, if someone is in love, then their reality is beautiful. That's situation is easy to see and it usually brings a smile the face of the onlooker. However, usually unconsciously the onlooker has just adopted the other person's reality in some aspect. It is usually short-term, but one always goes away after meeting someone who's in love feeling just a bit better.

Now, why is it that some realities people create are just short-term while others last four months if not longer? These longer-lasting perceptions and realities which people adopt I have noticed tend to be in the more negative realm. We all know a "Mr. Scrooge" who has a perpetually dark outlook. No matter what you say, or indeed what happens, somehow (and I often find this amazing that the human mind can be so bright) they find a way to see a negative aspect. It is much rarer to find someone who makes light in the darkness. Who takes a negative and spins it positive, although many such people do exist and I have had the joys of meeting them.

If it's at we as a society are not taught to be aware of how we think and relate to ourselves, but because the modern world has such a focus on external distraction, people just go with the flow? I think the answer to the question is "Yes". I wonder if a formal study has ever been done of cultures which have some form of, for lack of a better term, "personal self review" as opposed to those which are externalized has ever been done. Cultures cultures which employ the practice of meditation as opposed to those which do not might be an interesting study indeed.

I can see how people can get stuck in a reality which is not good for them, we are all so busy nowadays. Speaking personally the last year I have been so busy with various projects and events that I gave up trying to get to the end of the perpetual to do list. This was the realization when maintaining the list itself became an item on "the to do list". That was a bizarre situation indeed…

The other thing is which is not worthy is the fact that statutory holidays in Canada don't seem to be adhered to for the most part anymore. More businesses and people work on these holidays regardless of what they are. The corner store which stays open, and the big franchise operation which undoubtedly will have appropriate sales on those days. This I think is a backward step, because holidays are meant to allow people to step back, and out of, a reality. "You are not working today. So there is no reason to adopt your business routine." This should be a chance for people to change their "reality". And I think that was the original point of some of these holidays. To have a chance to change the mode we are in. It is a skill which we should get back to.

So now that you're done reading this, take a moment, take a break, take stock and change a reality. Whatever mode you are in feel free to play with your own emotional gearshift. If that happens to be an automatic mode, made this short little article encourage you to make your own reality right now :-)

Sincerely Patrick Clark. Have a wonderful day!

PS: I just took a short stroll to the local watering hole and coffee shop where I saw something quite remarkable. The usual cruel people were there, all oblivious to everything around them except for their caffeine fix etc. when some guy dogs in training along with their handlers walked in. In an instant there was discussion and because the dogs were young and inexperienced they reacted, much to their handlers dismay, all the training promptly went out the door and the dogs did what they normally do, barked happily tails wagging and kind of a joyful chaos ensued amongst the canines. This went on for about 10 minutes altogether then the dogs and their handlers left and almost spontaneously the group of coffee aficionados switched back into the regular modes of oblivion. I wondered how many of them had even noticed the change in their realities and how profound it really was?… At least it was a hopeful sign that humanity can indeed spark back to life and it made my day actually. The adventure continues…