Only things such as the laws of physics are really “true”
…And then only in this Universe!!
Human beings love stories. For thousands of years we existed as a purely oral culture and stories were how we kept history alive. Similarly, we are drawn to a “true story”. Maybe it holds more “validity” for us if it carries the label “true”. There is a slight problem with this. It assumes that true means that it is, just that, true.
There is no such thing as true.
There is instead, what is true for you. The story is always being told from someone’s point of view. What’s more it is an evolving narrative. Of course, universal laws of physics which hold true in every instance and in every situation qualify as true. Even then, we still don’t know if the laws of physics that hold true in this universe hold true in the multi-verse. The world of quantum physics has re-written the science that came before it…
Do you accept what you see “blindly”?
I have recently started wearing multi-focals. They’ve taken some getting use to. Round fry pans through the lens of my mulit-focals now look oval. Of course, I know the pan is round but through my lens it is anything but. That is one aspect of it. Secondly, unless I diligently clean my lenses everyday, I “see” though smudges and smears. All it has to do is rain a little and literally nothing is as clear and clean as it was. That got me thinking…. Life is like that and our perceptions are like that but I don’t have a prompt to clear my filters for life. Instead, I accept what I see as true. After all, I have seen it with my own eyes… We just don’t question our perceptions, unless we train ourselves to.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
John Heywood
All in the name of consistency
Here is the problem. Our point of view, smudges and all, is unique to us and is formed based on a slither of information, based on your RAS. It is at best a “likely story”. And that is the point. It is a story based on assumptions that exist in our minds and it is those assumptions that inhibit us from seeing what is right in front of us. Think about it for a moment. When do you cross examine yourself? Check-in to see if what you perceive in your reality exists as you believe it to or rather, is it a construct; An elaborate story that you now have convinced yourself is Gospel?
The first lies you tell are to the self. In order to stay consistent with our self beliefs we have to continue to look for evidence that supports your point of view. Whether you realize it or not you are always gathering evidence. It is evidence that supports your point of view and whatever you look for you find. It’s called building a case. You are wired that way.
Heck, we even re-imagine the past to reflect our present day point of view. All in the name of consistency. That becomes a trap with no way out. Once you are invested in your story you have too much at stake to give it up. If you can see it you can admit it. You have to be willing to look with fresh eyes. Once you can see it you can own it. Once you own it you are free because it no longer “has” you. That can be easier than it sounds…
The quality of your life is determined by the stories you tell
The beliefs in your head are creating the reality you experience daily. That forms the narrative that is your life. Question what you see and what you perceive. Here’s an acronym (CLIPS) to help you debunk your own stories. Think of it as a what you use to tame unruly hair.
- Cross examine yourself. Instead of being judge, jury and executioner play prosecutor instead and dedicate yourself to looking at the ‘facts’.
- Look for the common ground rather than the differences. Did you know we share 99.9% of our DNA with other humans yet we continue to look at the .01% difference.
- Imagine you are part of a debating team and instead of proving the affirmative, prove the negative instead. In other words, take the other side of the argument.
- Put a question mark at the end of each statement you are so sure of and turn the statement on it’s head. For example, “All teenagers are trouble!” becomes “All teenagers are trouble?”
- Shift your context from being right to something more workable: You decide, or better yet choose what that context is.