Life and reality are subjective experiences.
We don't know how things really are; we only know how we experience them through our imperfect senses and our conditioned mind.
And our mind makes up a lot of what we perceive as reality.
You can read more about how it works in this fascinating article from Vox.
The key takeaway is that our brain relentlessly creates illusions and stories to make meaningful decisions about reality. Decisions that drive our actions. So, those stories and illusions do more than just define our reality experience; they actively shape it.
We don't just passively perceive the world; we actively generate it. The world we experience comes as much, if not more, from the inside out as from the outside in. — Anil Seth.
We should try to remember this anytime we use words like reality or truth.
When we forget that reality is subjective, conflicts arise. We couldn't believe how others could not see the truth. How can they deny the reality that is so obvious to us?
It is there, and it is real. If you don't see it, you must be dull or a liar.
Isn't this how too often a conflict starts? Both parties believe that what they see is the objective reality.
When I find myself arguing with someone, I take a deep breath, and I remind myself that my reality is not their reality and, most importantly, it is not the objective one. This thought removes barriers and allows me to create a space to co-create a new shared reality.