DAY 46 – KEY ASPECT: SEEING LIFE REALISTICALLY

I am at my eye doctor getting my eyes examined. Every year or so the vision within my eyes changes and I have to get a new set of lenses to bring back my vision to where I can see better. The distortions of the outside world are corrected by the new lenses.

Similar to one’s vision certain thoughts and beliefs are a distortion of what is actually occurring and what is beneficial. The inaccurate portrayal of life in one’s mind is a cloud blocking out what is out there in the real world. Our ability to have a holistically better life and a collectively better world for all of humanity requires seeing life realistically as we do when we have corrective lenses for our eyes.

There is an enormous difference between having and not having realistic assessments about anything and everything. Every assessment determines how we behave. Is verbally, physically or sexually assaulting another human being a realistic assessment about how someone wants to be treated? Is betraying a trust a realistic assessment of how to act towards those who trust you? Is thinking of your concerns without showing similar concerns for your fellow human being a realistic assessment of how other people want to be considered? Is excluding people from having the opportunity for a better life a realistic assessment to creating a better world? Is spewing pollutants into the atmosphere or into the waterways thereby altering the earth’s ability to be clean and sustainable a realistic assessment that enables the earth to function optimally? Is not giving your children the nurturing love they require throughout their lives a realistic assessment of what children need from their parents? Is believing problems are inevitable and we cannot do anything to rid the planet of them a realistic assessment of the potential to change the world for the better? Is not contributing some of your time to creating a better world a realistic assessment that the world will become a better place without your contribution?

Without realism how can anyone expect the world of the future to be significantly better than it is today. Finding the best methods to live our lives and conduct our affairs requires beliefs that will actually accomplish what we want. I now realize that realistic thinking and realistic approaches will give us the ability to make this the last century for most human problems.