How Do We Create Our Reality?
I see this idea talked about a lot these days in articles and books. How to create your own reality… There are many theories and techniques around this. There has always been something about this idea that has bothered me just a tad. It may be because I question how much power we have to actually create our reality.
Part of my resistance to this idea comes from another belief that I am holding. That is the belief that everything has already been created, it already exists. You could say God created it all in that one big bang, and things have been unfolding accordingly ever since.
So, if everything has already been created, then our job is not so much to create things as it is to “align” with things that have already been created, which may give the illusion that we are creating them.
If I get an idea for some new revolutionary invention that the world has never seen before, there is an extremely high probability that I’m not the only one with that idea. Usually bright new ideas get seeded to several people right around the same time. Whoever manages to turn the idea into a physical manifestation first, wins.
But, what if that invention has been around since the time when everything got created, but it just wasn’t accessible as an idea until now? Or humans just weren’t quite ready for it until right now? This may explain certain visionaries in history who seem to be thinking or inventing things way before their time. They’re somehow picking up on ideas way ahead of the pack, they’re tuning into things that are created on some other dimensional level and they’re sensing out into infinity to find their inspiration of what is coming. It’s like looking into the future and then bringing those ideas back to the present.
Ok, so maybe create isn’t the right word. However, do we have power to align with certain realities or to influence how reality is going to show up? On this, I feel strongly that we do.
Earlier today, we had a huge storm blow through. It came out of nowhere and suddenly there was intense wind, thunder, lighting and rain pouring down. Did I create or align with that storm? Not that I’m aware of. I didn’t wake up this morning and think, “Hmmm, today would be a great day for some sudden severe weather.” Perhaps on some deep unconscious level some part of me had something to do with that storm showing up, but there is no proof of that so let’s not go there right now.
Do I create or align with all of the incidents and events that show up in my life? Many self-help gurus and spiritual teachers say that I do but I’m not convinced. I guess it is totally possible that I’m creating all of it on some unconscious or higher self level. Anything is possible, but what good does it do me to believe this?
Another way of saying this is that we are each “responsible” for everything that shows up in our life. This I can agree with more easily. I do believe our “response-ability” has a lot to do with influencing how reality plays out.
If we define Reality to be “the Experience I am having in this moment,” then things start making even more sense. My reality is actually my Experience Of whatever is in front of me.
Did I create the storm this morning? Not that I am aware of.
Did I create my experience of the storm? Absolutely, yes! I was 100% consciously aware and in control of how I experienced the storm.
Here is what I mean by that…
I was actually on the phone with a client when it hit, and when it began to get my attention (noticing how things were blowing around outside) I commented to the person on the phone. I mentioned how the trees were bending and how it looked pretty intense. My client asked if we should end the call and I said no, it will pass soon. And, worst case scenario, if a tornado suddenly blows in, I’m already in the basement so I don’t have far to go to be in the safest place in the house (my office is in the basement but looks out on the backyard). I actually said, “I’m at peace with the idea of my house being destroyed, so I’m not worried about any of this.” I knew on a deep level that this was just a storm and not something I needed to take any action around.
Then the power went out for a couple seconds and we were disconnected.
So, I called her right back and we continued our session until the power went out briefly again a couple minutes later. All the while the storm is raging outside my window. I called her back again. After about 10 minutes things had calmed down considerably and we finished up our time with no further interruptions.
I was very aware of how I felt during all of this. There was a calm, relaxed neutral feeling present. There was no concern or frustration or anything resistant or negative going on. I’ve learned how to experience life from this place and it makes a huge difference in how my Reality shows up.
In that sense I am creating my Reality, by responding to whatever is present in a way that is peaceful and non-resistant. In addition, as I do this more and more, it really seems that I have fewer and fewer disruptive events in my life. The peace and tranquility has profoundly pervaded my entire life now for quite a long time. Upsets are extremely rare.
So, as you go about your day, take control of the one aspect of your being that you can have full control over. Choose how you will think and feel in response to whatever is happening in the moment. You’re likely going to run into some deep patterns that will try to pull you into reactivity and resistance. But, these can be shifted. Reach for a feeling of peace, joy, ease and freedom and watch your whole reality take a turn for the better.
