“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
– Colin Powell
The focus of my blog is personal growth and development. This growth requires getting in touch with yourself through analysis, taking inventory, and spending time in deep self-reflection. Then, define who you are today, who you want to be, and how you plan to reach your goals. A personal growth plan leads to better self-awareness, focus, and clarity regarding your identity. Truly knowing yourself and what really matters in life is a starting point. We are always a work in progress. Reaching your goals takes consistency, developing a balance between work and home, and fun and meaningful activities. We all want self-fulfillment and happiness. So, during November and December, let’s make a plan. Today, we focus on reality.
This month, I want to address the deep philosophical questions we should be asking. As we move toward 2025, we will think about our plan for our best year yet. Reality is not something we usually sit around thinking about, but by understanding that we each have our personal reality, we can better understand who we are. Giving us room to design the person we want to be. Reality is not fixed but fluid. Meaning you can change your identity.
We need to prepare to set new goals and to design the life we want. Just as the leaves are falling from the trees, preparing for the winter. We, too, can make time to shed parts of ourselves that we no longer want or need and to prepare for a new version of ourselves. Personal growth takes time; time to examine where you are in life, what you want, and what gaps you have in reaching what you want. We have the power to change our lives, but we need to be well-grounded. Understanding reality and our personal philosophy is a good starting place for the journey into a new year.
We will start this journey by looking at key fundamentals of reality and how they affect our personal philosophy. When you open the door to go outside, one person knows their day will be pleasant; it is their expectation, their reality. Another person stands at the door, and they see danger, risk, and an obstacle course. They face the day with different attitudes, beliefs, and expectations. Yet is it not the same world?
There are many components that shape our reality. Our upbringing, culture, beliefs, values, education, religion, and political views all have the power to shape our reality. We are each different, and therefore, there is no one set of beliefs we all share. No one concrete reality.
So, why does exploring these ideas matter? The more you understand yourself, the more control you can have over your life, and you can design the life you want. We each have a personal philosophy, even if we have not defined it. It is your set of beliefs, values, and principles that guide your decisions and behavior. We each have a worldview as well, which is a broader perspective or our lens of the world and our place in it. Your worldview includes your personal philosophy, but also your culture, religion, and how society influences your life.
By defining your personal philosophy and your worldview, you gain perspective on your reality.
Perception is Reality. So, How Are You Perceived at Work? by Jawad Ashan
How your perception creates your reality, by Dr. David R. Hamilton
A Virtual Life: How Social Media Changes Our Perceptions, by Sherry Thomas
The Power of Perception: How Reality Shapes Goal Achievement and Wellbeing, by Linda L. Pilcher
Daily impact on our understanding of reality
How does understanding the nature of reality and our personal philosophy impact our daily lives? What roles do our emotions, cultural background, or social norms play in our perspective on reality?
Our emotions play an influential role in shaping our reality. First, we tend to seek information that confirms our beliefs and emotions; this is called confirmation bias. Our emotions impact how we perceive and interpret events. If our mood is positive and upbeat, then we experience positive feelings. And if we are negative, we have negative experiences. You may have heard the saying “getting up on the wrong side of the bed,” which means getting up in a bad mood. It implies that one is starting their day with a negative attitude. We have all had some event that shifts our mood, and that mood colors the rest of the day; it affects our reality.
We also often have a fight-or-flight response, a physiological reaction that is where our bodies prepare to fight or flee when we feel there is a threat. Although this is a physical reaction, it is tied closely to our emotions. What one sees as a threat is not how everyone sees the situation. So again, it is our perception of reality.
Are our emotional responses a reflection of our personal philosophy?
Cultural backgrounds can include your values and beliefs. The culture we grow up in teaches us values and beliefs that influence our worldview. Our cultural traditions and customs provide a structure for understanding and interacting with the world. These practices shape our reality. Even the language we speak can influence how we conceptualize reality. Different languages shape our understanding of time, space, and relationships.
The social structure or social norms you were brought up in and live in now influence what is acceptable behavior, shaping our perceived roles and how we perceive others. If you grew up in the U.S. in 1970, the social structure was different than that of our children and grandchildren today. Acceptable behaviors and actions are something we conform to, or most of us conform to.
The media we consume and the information we’re exposed to can reinforce societal norms and shape our world. Items such as the news, social media platforms, and even entertainment influence our reality.
How Does Perception Influence Reality? By Jay Van Bavel (YouTube)
Educational institutions and government policies reflect societal values and shape our understanding of our place in the world. They influence our worldview.
Our personal philosophies, or worldviews, are built through our identity formation, moral teachings, and our experiences. All build our perspective on life. Since no one has the exact experience as the person next to us, we see the world through a lens colored by our life experiences. We do not share the same lens or view of the world.
The Art of Self-Reflection: Defining Your Worldview By Linda L. Pilcher
Conclusion
Our perception of reality serves as a force shaping our experiences, choices, and outcomes. By cultivating a mindset rooted in optimism, resilience, and self-belief, you can move beyond obstacles and become the person you want to be. By recognizing the profound impact of perception on our well-being, we empower ourselves to a more fulfilling and enriching life. As we move along our journey, we strive to perceive the world through eyes of possibility, resilience, and gratitude, embracing each moment as an opportunity for growth and transformation.
There are obstacles to reaching our goals. Not being your authentic self for whatever reason will hold you back. Our perception of reality is not necessarily what our spouse or boss experiences, which could be an obstacle. Thus, sometimes we hold very different views of the world. Our Presidential election has shown that groups with opposing views on the same issue are entrenched in their beliefs; each believing that they are 100% right. Is there a right or wrong? I guess it depends on your views.
An interesting note, The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon where a large group of people remember an event or detail differently from how it actually occurred, basically false memories. One belief is that Nelson Mandela died in 1980 while in prison, yet he left prison and passed away in 2013. Check out these examples and explanations of the Mandela Effect. People often have false memories that they hold as true. I know that some of my childhood memories have been shattered by other family members as I learned what I believed to be true – was not true. We want to understand where we may not have the right answers. Be open-minded, ask questions, do research, and seek the truth.
The bottom line is: who are you today, who do you want to be tomorrow, and what is your plan for achieving your goals? We are not in competition with each other, but with ourselves. Winning means you have deeply analyzed your life and are making intentional choices to take you where you want to go in 2025.
How to be a Better Person by Setting Personal Standards, by Linda L. Pilcher
Questions to ponder:
- Is reality objective and independent of our minds, or is it subjective and constructed by our perceptions?
- What is the purpose of my life?
- How do my experiences shape my understanding of the world?
- What does it mean to live a good life?
- How do I define my identity?
Recommended Reading
The Experience Machine: How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality, by Andy Clark
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek
Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality, by Frank Wilczek
Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, by Jane McGonigal
How Your Perception Is Your Reality, According to Psychologist, by Jessica Estrada
Citations
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash