Everyone Lives In a Different World

The universe encompasses the solar system which is full of planets. Planets by definition are: celestial bodies moving in an elliptical orbit around a star. We live on planet Earth but yet when talking about Earth we call it the world. The difference between planet earth and the world is the world includes countries, natural features, and people. This definition is the basic understanding of the world as a whole, but the interesting thing about humans is we experience the world in different ways. Making it our world, our personal reality.

In order to understand the world we use our senses. The input around us comes in through the five senses learned as a child: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. There are four more senses which are generally not talked about: equillibroception (balance), nociception (pain), proprioception (body awareness). All nine senses structure the way individuals personally experience the world. The brain is the control center sifting sensory input and making sense of the environment. The understanding of this input creates experiences, memories, and understanding about the external environment. Associated with each sense is an emotion whether great or small. A small scale example is stubbing your toe. This action elicits a pain response which may be accompanied by the emotion of anger. These two inputs create a memory and every memory is stored in the form of pictures connected to emotions.

Although we as humans are living on the same planet in the same general world, everyone also lives in their "own world." For this reason quick assumptions and judgements can be terribly wrong about an individual. We use our senses to quickly observe and create opinions, without considering the way that person views the world. We base our opinions off of what is considered "normal," but normal does not truly exist. Normal is a word given for a set of standards we generate as a society, or culture. The normal can change there is not a set definition of normal, therefore normal does not exist. In order to understand someone you must understand them in context, not labeling them by what you observe. To understand someone, you need to understand the world as it is to them, understand their reality. Instead of using your senses to create judgments and opinions use senses to listen. Speak and ask questions to not hear someone else but to actually listen, use your eyes to listen to unsaid words, use touch in order to show understanding and interest. Learn to love. Some people say to love unconditionally, but love in itself should be unconditional.  Love should not be conditional on what someone does or does not do. Love is an emotion, and when you love those around you it will create memories and shape your world based of this emotion. Things are the way they are but each individual constructs and reacts to these things.

No one is handed life on a silver platter. No one experiences life in the same way. The emotions, memories, and experiences one has have an effect on their reality. Although these experiences shape people, they do not have to define people. The brain is powerful. Although negative memories may be pushed aside they will never completely be forgotten, but the only way to change the past is to change the present which gives hope for the future. Live in the present because technically every second or every minute becomes the past. Create positive memories and emotions in the present distances negative memories of the past. Confront problems of the past head on and then work to reframe the future. Fill the mind with positive present emotions and these memories will become a big part of who you are. The power to change, although not easy, is held within each individual. Change, happiness, success, sadness and so on, are proactive choices and reactions to situations. Some people may find themselves in dark times where change seems unachievable. The load placed on their shoulder's is too much to bear. People describe dark times as, lonely, lost and hopeless. The term darkness is used metaphorically. When there is actual darkness, meaning no light, no matter how good one's vision is it is impossible to see. Therefore when someone is in a metaphoric dark place they are unable to see. Unable to see what to do, who to go to for help, unable to see hope in the future, and unable to see their potential and who they truly are and who they can become. All these feelings may be bottled up inside and are not visible to people on the outside, but they are real. It may seem on the outside that someone is happy or their problems aren't a big deal, but what someone feels is real to them and becomes part of their world, their reality. 

Remember the next time you make a judgment or want to help someone you must try and understand the world through their reality. Bring light into the darkest corners of their life. Do not only hear but listen.  You can make endless observations but what you see may be the absence of what is actually there.