Inspired to Reality

We only see what we intend to see, or we only hear what we intend to hear.

This fundamental concept is such a simple one, but I believe causes so many problems in the world today and am surprised more doctors do not notice it. It is not a bad thing that the brain works this way, in fact it has to for us to correctly function. However, there are so many ailments and strife caused by this simple process.

The learning process that the brain uses is really quite efficient. Could you imagine trying to get through the day, without being able to learn or remember? Just waking up would be a chore…and just like the movie Groundhog Day, you would find yourself repeating the same things over and over. What is really amazing is the natural cycle each and every person seems to go through. When we are born everything is new to us. We can absorb the world and learn because our parents are there to protect us from any harm. Then we become teenagers, and we then magically know everything. Then the bumpy ride to adulthood, where we find the groove to fit in and survive. This is very important to realize since you can see how humans were able to not only survive as species, but also thrive.

I like to study children since they are so pure and uncorrupted. Children have no biases, no prejudices and are always willing to learn. Why is it children can jump on a computer or any other “complicated machinery” and understand it in minutes when there are some people who still cannot program their VCR? It is all the way they think. They also have excellent attitudes…if they fall off the bicycle, they get back on it. They are not afraid of failure. They have not learned to be yet.

Something strange happens to the human brain around the time you become a teenager though. My best guess is your body is realizing it needs to start taking care of itself…you are too big and your adventures take you away from your parents so they can no longer protect you…you have to learn to protect yourself. Everyone has experienced this for themselves, but the best example it to listen to any teenager. They know everything. How the world should work, how you should treat them, what they deserve…the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, this is bumpy road for the teen and his or her family since the teen needs to learn how the world works…sometimes the hard way.

The last transition is the most important since it actually begins to hardwire your brain. To function in society, you need a quick brain…you cannot be learning things or chasing new findings like a child. The boss wants that report by the end of the day, you have bills to pay…you need to focus! So our brains start using experiences from our past to build these information gates. The incredible thing about these gates, is how they filter everything, we deem unimportant out. We literally do not notice those things are there and thus sometimes do not see or hear them. Worse yet, the things that can pass through this system have to be interpreted in such a way as to reinforce your previous experience…or prove that what you believe is correct.

Let’s review and prove these two points are real. First, to prove you see or hear what you want to see or hear…Tell me how many advertisements did you see today? Maybe you cannot give me an accurate count, but did you notice any particular ad while driving to work? If you did, was it a product or service you were thinking about? For example, there are car commercials on TV but you do not notice them unless you are thinking about getting a car. Thinking about a specific vehicle? You will only notice the commercials for that vehicle. See we have trained our brains that ads are bad and annoying…we are bombarded by hundreds if not thousands a day. So what does our brain do…filter them out. That doesn’t mean they are not there. Did a person ever say something to you, but you were so enthralled in a book or the TV to hear them? Doesn’t mean they did not say it.

Second to prove you we only see or hear things the way we want to, my favorite example is love. If you are in love with a person, they can do no wrong…doesn’t mean they are not doing any wrong. People on the side lines may be trying to point things out to us but we just ignore them. Why is it that some people seem to always wind up in abusive relationships or continually make bad choices in a mate? My other favorite example is politics. Maybe it would not be so bad if one political party wasn’t always try to abuse the system…..What political party are you thinking of right now…is it the same as mine…maybe–maybe not. See, we make a decision that this party is bad and then we then only accept information that supports that decision. Labeling a party is very efficient since we can group a bunch of people together and pass judgment on them in one swoop. Where do you think stereotypes and racism come from? Why do you think we so much hatred and violence? We should let every individual stand on their own…not lump them into a pre-judged category.

So what belief structures have you formed…what gates are holding you back from real truth? Remember it is perfectly normal to think this way. You just have to realize what you doing and why. Do you believe you are not smart? Do you believe you cannot accomplish something big? Do you believe you can find happiness and peace? Do you believe you will never beat that sickness? I am sure you will find the evidence was always right there in front of you.

Be careful in what you believe, because you will always be right.

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