Reality is Overrated
The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. (Ecclesiastes 2:14)
In our contemporary society, many claim our ideas and viewpoints are correct or valid based on the concept of “reality.” The problem is that reality changes. It used to be a reality that the earth was flat. Reality altered as our perception changed. We cannot separate reality from our understanding because our thoughts influence our perception of reality. Reality is not necessarily the truth. Just because we see something does not mean we perceive it correctly.
In his article “Perception,” Dan Pedersen observes, “Our perception is not all that there is. Our perception is only a tiny fraction of all that there is. Any interpretation we might have of reality can only be partial. We are prone to error and there is a barrier between our subjective experience of reality and the nature of reality itself.” When our perception of life becomes cynical, our lives become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The article “Why Are Americans So Unhappy?” by The Politics Desk claims many of us are unhappy because of a negative perception of the world around us. “Many experts say the economy is looking good but Americans remain in a foul mood. There’s the lingering impact of inflation but also an existential dread fueled by climate change and a deep dissatisfaction with our politics.”
Looking beyond ourselves and our present moment helps transform our outlook. I love studying history because it gives me a different perspective on life. Our current inflation rate is minuscule compared to the 13.3% inflation rate in 1979. I was in high school, and my classmates and I were deeply concerned about what kind of future we would experience. When we consider different times of trial and tribulation, it helps adjust our perspective of the future. January 2024 isn’t the only point in American history when political campaigns had ridiculous and malicious claims.
Today, consider your present mood. Remember to invite God into your present before you set your perception in stone. Without the promise of divine intervention, particular moments can feel bleak. With the belief that God’s hand is in our world, addressing the human sins that exacerbate issues like climate change, we continue to strive for improvement rather than succumb to resentment and despair. Keep working on your perception of your life and our world. With God’s help, hope remains, and new life can be achieved through hard work and not giving up.