How, and to what degree is our perception of reality skewed? Is the world, our country, our state, our city, or even our community exactly what we think it is? Are our personal relationships based on reality, fantasy, a mixture?
Okay. The title of this post is actually a statement that I generally dislike. In my view, reality is reality. It either is, or it is not. Perception does not change what is real. That being said, perception seems very much like reality. We act and react based on our perception of what is real, not always on what is actually real. For instance, if I convinced you beyond a shadow of a doubt in your mind that a ferocious animal was right outside your front door trying to get in to kill you, and you believed it with all your heart, you would act and react as if it were true, when in fact there is nothing there at all.
the reality: nothing harmful outside your door
your perception: something extremely harmful outside your door
So we act and react based on our perception of reality. To us, whatever we perceive as real is all that matters. I say that to make a point, of course. Our perception of reality is easily skewed. Marketing firms owe their huge successes that fact. Many politicians owe their positions in public office to that fact. Anyone who wants something from you, and is generally skilled in manipulative tactics is likely able to skew your perception of reality, at least to some degree. Conspiracy theorists prey on people who are most susceptible to those kinds of manipulative skills. I propose that I could take any ordinary person off the street, and with a little coaching, take that person into a medium to large city, and within a single day convince a dozen people that this ordinary fellow was the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln. It would not be hard to find a dozen people who were gullible enough, and weak minded enough, to believe it. That is an extreme example, but all of us can be deceived. It's just a matter of to what degree, what tactics must be used, and how long it would take.
Now let's get to the main point. How, and to what degree are we deceived? Is our perception of reality, in fact, reality? Here's an example I like to use. Driving on the Interstate for a few miles, I have someone almost rear end me because they are going way over the speed limit and aren't paying attention. Maybe they are trying to text or something equally as unwise. A few seconds later, someone puts on their brakes in front of me for no apparent reason, and I almost rear end them. Just after that, a kid on a motorcycle flies by at about ninety miles per hour and cuts in front of me. Then a semi driver nearly shoves me off the road trying to get into my lane without looking. As I finally get to my exit, I'm thinking, "Everyone on the Interstate is crazy today!" Now, if I could rewind the situation, and see it in a different way, I'd notice that out of the dozens and dozens of cars moving along with me and coming the other way on the other side of the freeway, only a few of them were driven by people who were doing something ridiculous. All the rest were just driving along safely and carefully, minding their own business, not tailgating, not weaving in and out of traffic, and not causing any problems. My perception of reality would be different. "Some people on the Interstate are crazy today, but most are not," I might think.
A friend often talks about how the world has changed. People are different from what they used to be in his perception of reality. To some degree he is correct. But someone who spends very little time outside his workplace or home, and only sees what's on TV or posted on the Internet - someone who doesn't travel to any other states or cities is going to have a skewed perception of the reality of the world. TV shows, movies, the news, and all forms of media show extremes. Normal doesn't get ratings nor bring in revenue. So a person can be convinced that things are much worse, much more widespread and extreme than they really are. Then along comes someone with a web site or a radio program who tells him that things are really much worse than he even knows! There are secret conspiracies behind everything we see and hear! Our doctors can't be trusted because they would rather see millions die than expose a known cure for cancer, because it would ruin their careers!
See what I mean? False perceptions.
I am not trying to convince anyone that the world is good, nor that nothing is wrong, all is well, go back to bed. Also, most of what I am saying applies to the United States of America, still one of the best places in the world to live. My thoughts do not apply to the Middle East right now, for instance. I am merely saying let's not focus on the bad, but look for the good that is left. It's not all bad! I have been to cities from the East Coast to the West in America, and from within a few miles of the Canadian border to Houston Texas, and have seen thousands of people just being...normal. Most of them are fairly friendly, have no ulterior motive in saying "Hi," and even will hold a door for you at a store. The world is not a perfect place, and yes...it will get worse before Jesus comes back. But all is not lost just yet, and there is plenty of good that can be done. If we perceive that there is no use trying...that will become reality. Live. Laugh. Love. Pray. It's still a good life, if we choose to perceive it that way.
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