Interrogating Reality — The Art of Perspective

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #108 here.

A client recently complimented me on being "skilled at interrogating reality," and it got me thinking about what that means in the context of our everyday lives.

Reality isn't a singular, absolute thing but really is based on individual perceptions. Every person has a unique lens through which they see things and that lens has been created from their own lifetime of experiences—family beliefs, cultural norms, and personal interactions. And these lenses are not static; they are constantly changing. Part of our brain functions as a filter in order to manage an enormous amount of information by simplifying and categorizing experiences to prevent us from becoming overwhelmed.

As we go through life, our perceptions can lead us to view situations in absolutes; in black and white. However, I’ve noticed in both my personal life and through coaching others that reality doesn’t really ever conform to that kind of simplicity. When I catch myself or a client in black-and-white thinking—'this or that', 'right or wrong', ‘good or bad’—I challenge it. Because, more often than not, the truth lies in the shaded areas in between or often even exists in a paradox.

When you lock yourself into a single perspective, you limit your ability to engage fully with the world. Imagine walking through a gorgeous, colorful garden but only seeing shades of grey. By questioning our views and daring to consider that there might be some truth in another perspective, we open ourselves up to more connection and less resistance.

Being open in this way can lead to a more peaceful life. It's not about ditching your principles but about softening the edges of your reality. Think of it as expanding your mental orchestra. The more tones and harmonies you can play, the richer your experience of the world becomes.

Every interaction, every challenge, every seemingly mundane moment is an opportunity to test our filters. It's an opportunity to adjust our lenses and, hopefully, see a clearer or different picture than what we've always seen. Don’t you want your life to be less about conflict and more about curiosity?

Where are you holding on to rigid views? Could there be another side to the story you've convinced yourself is the only version? What if reality is different than you've allowed yourself to see?

As you interrogate reality, you’ll undoubtedly find more peace of mind and live a more vibrant life.

 “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

— Albert Einstein

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #108 here.