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What is Reality?

By Gilbert Griffiths

Wikipedia defines reality as “Reality, in everyday usage, means the state of things as they actually exist.” That definition sounds straight forward, but is “the state of things as they actually exist” a fact, or a perception? In this age of constant change, what was a fact yesterday is refuted by new research today. Does this mean that reality is not really what we think it is?

We all know, from science classes we took in school that everything is made up of atoms. Atoms consist of a nucleus surrounded by whizzing electrons. The attraction between atoms creates molecules, which attract other molecules to make up everything in our universe.

When the gases Hydrogen and Oxygen are mixed together in the ratio of two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom (H2O), instead of getting another gas, you get water. When you mix one Carbon atom with two Oxygen atoms (CO2), you have an inert gas, Carbon Dioxide that contributes to global warming. However, if you mix one Carbon atom with one Oxygen atom (CO) you get Carbon Monoxide, which is a gas that can kill you. A minute difference that you cannot even see creates a completely different thing.

If you mention the word sand, everyone immediately thinks of the stuff on the beach that their kids use to make castles. Alternatively, they may think of the stuff that the highway workers spread on the road to give vehicles more traction when the road surface is icy. Or, they may think of glass, which by the way, is not solid like it appears, but a very very slow moving liquid. (If you remove a piece of glass from a window that is more than 25 years old, and measure the thickness of the glass at the top and at the bottom using a micrometer, you will discover that the glass is minutely thinner at the top than it is at the bottom. This is because the glass is slowly moving down because of the pull of gravity.) The most common constituent of sand is silica (silicon dioxide or SiO2).

A number of years ago, a group of eminent scientists were gathered to discuss what they should be looking for when they looked for life on other planets. As the discussion progressed, one scientist said maybe they should be looking for silicon based life forms. Dead silence followed this statement. Then the rest of the scientists began laughing and ridiculing their colleague who had made the statement. He was virtually drummed out of the scientific community for making such a statement.

Interestingly, within the past few years, scientists have discovered glass sponge reefs off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Believed to have disappeared during the Jurassic era, these 9,000-year-old Hexactinellid sponge reefs have been built by silica-utilizing sponges. Nowhere else in the world have such organisms been found. The fact that they have been found, though, changes our reality. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexactinellid ).

(Note! this Intel was written a few years ago, and at that time the only known location was the one I have mentioned. Since then numerous locations have been found as mentioned in the wikipedia article. When I found this Intel tucked in the very back of a binder, I thought it would be enlightening, so I published it as originally written.)

The fact that our reality can be changed means that it really is not a fact, but a perception based upon the knowledge that we have when we make our observations. Since we can change our knowledge by learning new things and by thinking in a different way, then we have the ability to change our reality. (See my note above...my reality was changed again by reading the updated wikipedia article)

Since this is scientifically possible, then there is no reason why we cannot have whatever reality we want. Since everything is made up of atoms, and they have electrical charges that can attract other atoms, then if we create the right charges in the atoms that make up our bodies, then we should be able to attract things to us. By constantly thinking of positive uplifting things, we can create a positive attraction, which will cause positive things to be attracted to us and make up our reality.

I can hear you scoffing at the above paragraph, but think about this for a moment. Look at a Dandelion. It is a bright yellow flower that grows wild in most places around the world. Some people enjoy looking at them, others pick them to make wine from, but most people think of them as noxious weeds and poison them or dig them up and put them in the garbage. Same flower, different perception. When I look at a caterpillar, I see the beautiful butterfly that it will become. When you look at a caterpillar, you may see a garden pest and stomp on it. Same insect, different perceptions.

There was an article a few years ago about a young woman, blind since shortly after her birth, who suddenly got her sight back. When she was blind, she enjoyed eating fried eggs, sunny-side-up. However, after getting her sight back and seeing an egg lying there on her plate, she thought that it was revolting and could not eat it. Same egg, different perception. So, if your perception changes then your reality changes.

Since you perception is controlled by your thoughts and beliefs, then if you change your thoughts, which also control your beliefs, you can change your perception. Changed perceptions, ergo changed reality.

Therefore, if you do not like your reality, then change your thoughts and over time, you will develop the reality and the life that you want. That is a FACT backed up by science.

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This is the same concept as what is written in this book.
Check out 'As You Think: Second Edition' by James Allen, Marc Allen (Pa... http://amzn.to/bgVrvt

Hi Bill,

Went to the Amazon site and read the lead in by Marc Allen. Then I went to my library and checked all my books. I don't have any by James Allen, but I may have read some of his stuff elsewhere, although I'm not sure where. The concept behind the Intel certainly isn't new as many authors have expressed the same thing from slightly different angles. My ideas came when I read a news release about the glass sponges...they were so different from anything known at that time that my reality was shaken by it. The article just grew from that perspective.

gilbertg

Bill Coughlin Jul 25, 2010 14:20

Very interesting twist on the power of positive thinking...

Hi James,

Reality is "real existence." Realty is "the selling of houses or real estate." One little letter makes a whole difference, which is what I was trying to point out...change a little something about yourself and you will change your reality.

Gilbert

PS. I'm sure you knew that and just wanted to give me a scare...you succeeded as I immediately grabbed my dictionary to make sure I'd used the right word.

Nice intel and relevant. I agree with statement "... there is no reason why we cannot have whatever reality we want." The majic component is "we" not "I". When a group (we) are like-minded reality emerges

JazLive Aug 7, 2010 14:44

Great article Gilbert. Very clear, very scientifically succinct. An enjoyable read.

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