I’ve had a very interesting week. With a few ups and downs.
The Difference Between Your Reality and The Reality
One important insight I’ve gained during this time is how there’s a difference between our reality and the reality, or truth.
Let me explain…
I’m confident in saying that we’ve all experienced moments where we’ve believed something to be true, only for it to turn out not to be the case later on.
But in those moments, we believed it to be true, and this was our reality. Even though it differed from the actual reality, or truth.
It’s only when we expand our consciousness and come into the actual reality and truth that we realise our reality wasn’t the actual reality, and we end up seeing the truth.
I often find these moments to be fascinating, liberating, and beyond words.
Curiosity, Ego, and Staying Open to Other Perspectives
And what I take away from them is the importance of being curious, receptive, and open to other perspectives, of not taking ourselves too seriously, believing that we’re always right and that there’s no alternative way of looking at any given situation. Interestingly, this is much the same reason you can’t control how others perceive you: the version of reality in our head is rarely the whole picture.
This is challenging, especially when the ego takes over and runs our lives.
The Observer of Self: An Antidote to Autopilot
One antidote to this, which I’ve shared many times, is living from the place of being the observer of self.
This is a practice in itself. And it requires conscious effort.
But what’s the alternative?!
To live on autopilot and end up, at the end of our lives, wondering where all the time went and how we got to where we got to…
Usually with a bunch of regrets, from what I can tell!
No, thank you!
Questions That Help You Become the Observer
So one of the best things we can do is begin the journey of becoming an observer of self, by asking more questions and noticing what emerges. Encouragingly, this isn’t just a nice idea; psychologists call it self-distancing, and the research shows that taking a mental step back to view a situation as a “fly-on-the-wall” observer lowers stress and helps us reason and solve problems more clearly.
We can ask questions like…
- Why am I feeling what I’m feeling?
- What’s an alternative way of looking at this situation?
- Is this true?
And so on…
At the end of the day, from my young adult life so far, our reality often isn’t the reality or truth. And the more we can discover, find, and realise the actual truth, the more peaceful, fulfilled, and happier we’ll be!
Being an observer of self and the questions we ask can help us on our journey.
Key Takeaways on Becoming the Observer
- Personal Beliefs vs Truth: You often mistake personal perceptions for absolute reality. Realising this gap helps you see actual truth more clearly.
- Ego and Openness: You can reduce ego-driven reactions by remaining curious and receptive to other perspectives instead of assuming you are always right.
- Living Off Autopilot: You prevent a lifetime of regret by stepping back from automatic reactions, and you learn to observe your thoughts with fresh clarity.
- Self-Distancing Questions: You lower stress and solve problems better by asking yourself why you feel a certain way and whether your current thought is true.
FAQs for Your Reality vs The Reality: Becoming the Observer
What is the difference between your reality and actual reality?
Your reality consists of the personal beliefs and interpretations you hold in any given moment. Actual reality is objective truth, which often differs from your subjective point of view.
How does ego affect your perception?
Your ego tries to convince you that your viewpoint is the only correct one. This keeps you trapped in a rigid mindset and prevents you from considering alternative perspectives.
What does it mean to be an observer of self?
Being an observer of self means stepping back mentally to watch your thoughts and reactions without immediate judgement. This simple practice helps you stop living on autopilot.
What questions help you practice self-distancing?
You can ask yourself why you feel a specific emotion, whether a belief is actually true, and what alternative ways exist to view your situation.
How does self-distancing improve your daily life?
Taking a mental step back lowers stress levels and improves problem-solving. You cultivate greater peace and fulfilment.
