Wes

Reality is the observed interactions of our surroundings. Reality varies depending on the perceptiveness (or the different levels of perception) of the observer. This means that an individuals "reality" is bound by, and created by, how he perceives the various interactions. Objects only come into existence when they interact with their surroundings, as light "interacts" with an object it becomes visible. When you, the observer, touch, taste, feel, smell, or by any other means "sense" something it comes into existence. This form of existence is subject to the prejudices and biases of the observer. These tendencies, to accept or reject, limits the depth of reality the word real defines existence as a concrete and observable form. In this sense things (experiences and observations) can become real even in the absence of the preverbal 5 senses. Love comes into existence when it comes in contact with obstacles. This interaction validates (to the observer) the reality of love. The various experiences he associates with love then in turn define the abstract term. Love is..... And the rest is up to the observer. Accepting this, one sees that reality is not a universal ecosystem of fundamental truths and concrete objects, but is rather a model built in the mind of the observer as an explanation of all that he has thus far observed. Reality, as it is based on observations exclusive to every individual, is unique to everything. In other words everything has its own idea of reality. The words on your screen exist only when they interact with light that then distinguishes them from the rest of their surroundings. The observer then, (if he/she has knowledge of the written English language) applies meaning to the rigidly ordered series of lines. This meaning is based on definitions that stem from the experiences of the reader. Because experiences change or alter the observer, this set of ideas will then change or "mean" something different to everyone. Each individual will acquire something unique. In a more illustrative sense of this concept every time an individual reads this it will mean something different until the reading experience of the same words becomes so monotonous that the words no longer inspire a new experience and the reader reverts, in his mind, back to an old mindset and seeks no longer to allow his progressed form to observe but replaces the new experience with the memory of a past one. Seeking not to learn or grow but to understand. And once he thinks he understands he makes no effort to look for a deeper or perhaps just a different meaning, limiting his true potential for thought and also his sense of reality. "Lean not on your own understanding." this can happen in many other ways than reading. when something happens that reminds someone of a past experience, rather than completely assessing the situation at hand, it becomes easy to generalize and compare the new with the old then taking the solution from the past and applying it without proper deliberation and consideration of all the elements in the new equation. this is not to say that we should not learn from or consider the past, but all to often by comparing situations (new experiences) rather than observing the whole we see only the likeness of the past thus limiting our ability to learn from the present and reach the best conclusion/ solution. We are now truly living in the past and operating IN the past instead of after it. Nothing can be learned if everything is equated with previous experiences. At this point we merely solidify our ideas and concepts and because we only observe what we selectively "want" to observe these "truths" are only illustrated in new ways. Thus further limiting our reality. ("You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.") Then reality becomes old news and when something happens to contradict our "world model" as I call it, we simply choose not to believe it. The observer then becomes jaded as his view of the rest of reality is jaded. This jaded reality, though bleak and meaningless is just as real, in the true sense of the word, as that of a child who views every experience just as it is - unique. Thoughtful and perceptive observers open to new ideas and experiences, as a chance to learn rather than prove their predetermined viewpoints; develop a deeper more insightful and often "mysterious" reality. What is real to one observer may have never been observed by another. Thus resulting in the latter not accepting the validity of the experience and so ruling the experience as "not real" but just a "figment of imagination". As observers bound by biases and prejudices as well as limited by our feeble abilities to perceive, held back also by our tendencies not to accept that which does not fit our "world models" we are poorly suited for defining reality. Acceptance of reality is possible. Definition however is what we desire. the more accepting we are as observers the more likely we will be to find a deeper appreciation for what is real, rather than a jaded, used, and mundane view of the world around us. "Real" is the unity of that which is perceived and that which is believed in the mind. For if the observer rejects the information then he can dismiss in his own mind (which is where the "world view" lies) the reality of it. Look long and hard enough and you will find what you’re looking for, be it good, or bad. Disbelief is easier than fixing a model that would otherwise work fine. You create the world as you think it is, simply by… thinking it is. You create the world - as you think it is. Just by - thinking - it is. If you dislike your world, change it, don’t bitch about it. You’re the only one who can change your world. We are not comfortable with change as is it carries the possibility of things getting worse, but what do you a mere person have to complain about? If I was God, creator of the universe, father of all things, Savior, the man who died a death we can’t even imagine (try holding the weight of your own guilt let alone the sins of all people throughout all ages) I would be sick and tired of hearing my creation complain about how miserable they are. He died for you. Live for him. All he asks for is love: love the Lord your God with all your strength soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. God paid for your soul to reject that as truth (real) is to reject your own salvation. How would you like it if you gave the person you love the most in the world, your life, and then in return got the finger? Think about that. And next time you want to judge me, think about the fact that I’m not yours to judge. I gave my life to someone else, I’m not perfect or anything else I strive to be. But I’m forgiven. this is who i am.