What is reality?

Does reality exist only in the objects that surround us? Is our inner experience part of reality? Is my reality the same as your reality? Is my perception of what happens real?

These questions have long been central questions for philosophers and psychologists alike. Recently a client of mine during a session was amazed at the realization that people feel the emotions of an experience not only when it happens, but when it is remembered as if it were happening again. Is it real again because it is felt? Are emotions the essence of the experience of reality?

We are beings connected with the world through our senses with the ability to understand and interact through perceptions that shape our thoughts with the direction of our emotions. Thoughts build ideas, concepts as well as imagined situations that can take us into the realm of possibilities to create real life bridges or catastrophic possibilities that turn into the nightmares of our making. How do we use the power of our imagined realities? Do we build ideas that we use to transform our lives for the better or do we scare ourselves out of living fully?

All these questions have obvious but no easy answers. We are always tricked into believing our own thoughts even though we may know that they are only thoughts. Our emotions play a crucial role marking the importance of our inner experiences. If the emotional marker is loud enough, we are convinced that it is real and our behaviors will follow the lead. This is the reason why we have sleepless nights full of worries or the need to control our lives or the lives of others even though we know well that life cannot be controlled.

I invite you to give yourself twenty minutes every day to stop and listen to your lived experience in your own body. You live your life embodied in a vessel that creates emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Learn about your breath, your sensations, the content of your thoughts and the depth of your emotions. Listening to your personal experience can inform you about what about your reality is modifiable for a more connected experience.

I invite you to begin a gentle mindfulness practice everyday. Explore your own experience with curiosity and compassion. Do seek professional help if your experience is overwhelming and in need of guidance. Well conducted psychotherapy will guide you to understand your experience and develop strategies to live a balanced and full life.

You can contact me: contacto@pshyc4life.com