There is a large difference between reality and our perception of reality.
Albert Einstein says that
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
Douglas Adams says that
“Everything you see or hear or experience in any way at all is specific to you. You create a universe by perceiving it, so everything in the universe you perceive is specific to you.”
Perception versus reality is something that stands out to me quite often — especially when reflecting back. I learned that things are not always what they seem.
The Reach of Imagination
The reach od imagination, Polish Mathematician and Historian Jacob Bronowski says, “The tool that puts the human mind ahead of the animal is imagery.” For us, memory does not demand the preoccupation that it demands in animals, and it lasts immensely longer because we fix it in images or other substitute symbols. With the same symbolic vocabulary, we spell out the future-not one but many futures, which we weigh one against another.
Imagination is uniquely human. It allows human beings to create a rich, vivid perception of reality in their minds. The mighty human imagination can behold far more than what the eyes can see. It enables human beings to tell stories, imagine future situations, empathize, contemplate potential explanations for why something has occurred, share knowledge, and above all philosophize. All of this becomes possible with imagination.
Perception isn’t reality. But, perception can become one’s reality. Perception acts as a lens through which human beings view reality. The perception influences how one focuses on, processes, remembers, interprets, understands, synthesizes, decides about, and acts on reality.
Our tendency is to assume that how we perceive reality is an accurate representation of what reality actually is. But it’s not. The problem is the lens via which we perceive. The lens is distorted by our genetic predispositions, prior knowledge, past experiences, preconceived notions, self-interest, emotions, and cognitive distortions.
Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information and conscious understanding of something. Whereas, the reality is what is there in existence and has always been, independent of anyone’s perception.
Now here’s a brief explanation with examples:
Reality: The earth is a sphere
Perception: Some people may perceive the earth as flat based on their limited experiences or cultural beliefs.
Reality: A certain food tastes bitter
Perception: Some people may have a genetic variation that makes the same food taste sweet to them.
Reality: An object is moving
Perception: The speed at which the object is moving may appear differently to different people based on their relative position or other factors.
So, perception of reality is shaped by individual factors and can differ from person to person, while reality remains the same.
It’s a crazy world out there but we have more crazier one inside of us🌍🗺️.–Anupama Gupta
We know that the reality of the world is crazy out there, so crazy that we don’t know how much we know actually! and it makes more crazier when it mix with our perception of that reality. No one have control over anyone’s perception and that makes it dangerous and amazing at the same time.
For example We all know Hitler, he Obsessed with the idea of the superiority of the “pure” German race, which he called “Aryan,” Hitler believed that war was the only way to gain the necessary “Lebensraum,” or living space, for the German race to expand. World war 2 is crazy but the mind behind that war is more crazier to make it the biggest war in history.
Reality is just a medium by which we can measure the understanding of a human.
Reality is not always in our favour but perceptions are always in our mind. I will tell you with recent example. Who see the pathan knows it. One Raw army officer betray the Indian army because Indian army didn’t negotiated with terrorist to save his family and he thought ” mene desh ke liye itna kiya, aur badle me desh ne muje kya diya?” and then another Raw army officer said, ” soldier ye kabhi nahi puchta ke desh ne uske liye kya kiya? Balki hamesha ye puchta he ki wo desh ke liye kya kar sakta he?” right there the reality is same for both but how their perception towards the reality make the difference between their life.
So as I said reality is just a medium to measure the understanding of human perception.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TOPIC FOR US?
It’s important to note that reality and perception are not separate entities, but are deeply intertwined. Reality shapes perception, and perception shapes our understanding of reality. This relationship between reality and perception creates a continuous feedback loop, as the way we perceive reality influences our thoughts, behaviors, and actions, which in turn shape our experiences and perception of reality.
For example, Ravan is more knowledgeable than Shree Ram. But his perception of his ego made him villain of the story and Shree Ram’s perception of forgiveness, truthness makes him God. That’s how perception play the role in anyone’s story. make your perception so strong and wonderful that your reality shines like a diamond.
In conclusion, reality and perception are two different yet interrelated concepts that are integral to our understanding of the world. While reality is objective and independent of individual interpretation, perception is subjective and shaped by our experiences and beliefs.
Shree Krishna said in The Bhagavat Gita,”Obviously, one who has control over his mind can live happily, and the one whose senses are not under control will be destroyed by his own mind” He said perception of our reality makes our reality so choose wisely.
My perception of reality is to explore the universe as it is in reality and that makes my reality in this universe as a explorer. Tell me what is your perception of your reality?