The Power of Thought

Let’s delve into how our thoughts can alter our perceptions and guide us toward specific information. For instance, if I spend a day dwelling on the belief that “I am unmotivated,” this self-perception may lead to further negative thoughts, such as “I must be unlikable” or “Success is unattainable for me.” The initial thought, when reinforced through repetition, expands into a myriad of similar beliefs. Many can relate to this downward spiral, whether it’s related to procrastination or weight gain.

The connection between thoughts and actions is undeniable. This is not pseudoscience; the link between positive thinking and constructive actions (or negative thinking and detrimental actions) is well-supported. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a widely utilized treatment for anxiety and depression, operates on the premise that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interlinked.

If I harbor fears of a car accident, I might envision scenarios like a car collision or hospital visits, leading to physiological responses such as increased heart rate or nausea. This could prompt me to avoid driving altogether or limit my travel routes, possibly making me more anxious while driving and inadvertently increasing my chances of an accident. This could be seen as a form of manifestation—a self-fulfilling prophecy where I craft my own reality.

Conversely, affirming thoughts like “I am creative” may inspire related thoughts, like “I could write a book,” which could uplift my mood, boost dopamine levels, and lead me to pursue creative endeavors. This illustrates the principle of “change your thinking, change your life” without invoking any mystical elements.

Perception and Its Influence

Let’s further explore how our thought patterns can shape our perceptions of the world. Our brains seamlessly fill in gaps in our perception, often without our awareness.

A classic example is the spinning dancer optical illusion, where some perceive her spinning clockwise and others counter-clockwise. This phenomenon has sparked debates about whether it relates to being “right-brained” or “left-brained.” However, psychologists agree that the divergence lies in perception rather than brain hemisphere dominance.

The illusion’s trick lies in the viewer’s assumed perspective. Without depth cues, the brain compensates by filling in these gaps. Thus, if I perceive the dancer from above, she appears to spin clockwise; from below, she appears to spin counter-clockwise.

The brain’s ability to fill in these perceptual gaps is so smooth that we often don’t realize it’s happening. For instance, our blind spots and the ease with which we read jumbled sentences illustrate this concept.

Research into such illusions has revealed that various factors—culture, upbringing, environment, and genetics—can shape our worldviews. This influence extends beyond mere optical illusions; it affects how we interpret others' intentions based on their tone and body language and even shapes our perceptions of time.

Psychologist Jennice Vilhauer states: > “What we control, and where we really start to create our reality, is in how we perceive/interpret/think about the events in our life that generate our feelings about those events, and how we subsequently respond with our behavior. No one can choose your thoughts or actions; those are yours alone.”

It appears there is both conscious and unconscious influence over our perceptions. As I observe the spinning dancer, I may perceive her direction differently at times, indicating a change in my perception that I can’t quite pinpoint. This reflects the unconscious influences shaping my worldview, alongside conscious interpretations of others’ behaviors.

The Role of Language

Another intriguing way we shape our reality is through language. For instance, languages like French and German assign gender to nouns, which can affect how speakers relate to their surroundings. A French speaker might view “le pont” (the bridge) as strong and mighty, while a German speaker may see “die brücke” as beautiful and delicate. Though both are referring to the same object, their linguistic frameworks lead to different perceptions.

Moreover, the vocabulary we possess affects our ability to differentiate between shades of color. Ludwig Wittgenstein famously stated, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”

The Concept of Manifestation

Thus far, we’ve focused on our perceived reality—what we believe about our observations. But what about manifesting something from nothing?

I recall a wise woman from my youth who shared a story about a single friend in her 40s longing for a red convertible but lacking the funds. She created a vision board filled with images of red convertibles and wrote, “$0 down, $0 per month.” After three months of daily viewing, she entered a relationship with a firefighter who happened to own a red convertible. Thus, she enjoyed her dream car without any financial burden.

Like this woman, countless individuals claim similar experiences. Yet, how can simple thoughts lead to tangible results?

To understand this, we should consider the historical context. Throughout human history, we have observed phenomena and established rules to explain them. The scientific method emerged as a means to objectively study the natural universe, gaining prominence during the 19th-century scientific revolution that popularized mechanistic science.

Mechanistic science views the universe as a machine, responding predictably to stimuli. While several laws, like every action having an equal and opposite reaction, have been proposed, it’s essential to remember that these laws are constructs created by humans to interpret observations, and they have evolved over time.

However, certain limitations exist within Newton’s laws, particularly regarding gravity. While Newton famously attributed gravity to an “action at a distance,” new evidence suggests he was mistaken. Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity posits that objects warp the fabric of space-time, drawing others toward them, akin to marbles spiraling down a drain.

> “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” - Aldous Huxley

What does all this scientific discourse imply for our ability to shape our reality? It emphasizes that we don’t possess all the answers. The current understanding of cause-and-effect is rooted in a Newtonian framework that is increasingly being challenged, particularly in fields like quantum physics.

Humanity’s capacity to gather data, make choices, and exert influence over the world is unparalleled. We cultivate food, purify water, and innovate in ways that no other species can. Therefore, can we also utilize this power to manifest our desired realities?

Assuming the Law of Cause and Effect holds true, every outcome has a preceding cause. Life is not a series of random events; our actions yield consequences. To explore this law further, we might conduct an experiment, repeating specific actions to observe consistent outcomes.

For example, if I secure a new job (the outcome), one might deduce that my application (the cause) facilitated this. To validate this assumption, we could have 1,000 others apply for jobs and observe the results. Yet, if even one person fails to secure a job, it would indicate that applying alone isn’t the sole cause of my success. The real cause likely encompasses a mix of upbringing, education, beliefs, skills, interests, previous experiences, and, of course, my application. Proving this is impossible; we can’t recreate our entire lives or even the relevant aspects to ensure consistent results.

This limitation highlights a significant shortcoming of the scientific method—it cannot account for every variable in human experience. Critics have long pointed out that the mechanistic view of the world often overlooks human creativity, agency, and personal growth.

When science cannot definitively prove or disprove a phenomenon, we are left with direct experiences, intuition, and faith. Our Newtonian background may lead us to believe that life’s outcomes stem solely from physical processes. Yet, what if that isn’t the case?

What if, as countless individuals have suggested throughout history, both physical and spiritual laws govern our existence? What if the tangible world merely reflects the effects of these laws? This perspective does not conflict with scientific principles; it allows for an acknowledgment of the unseen forces shaping our lives.

The reason for securing a job might stem from a daily practice of visualization and affirmations, where my thoughts and spoken words influence the universe to align with my desires. The current scientific models may not provide a definitive answer, and perhaps that uncertainty is part of the journey.

So, do we indeed create our own reality? Absolutely. Our thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and even the language we use play a significant role in shaping our realities. Acknowledging this responsibility empowers us to choose our perspectives and influences how we engage with the world.

Recognizing that everyone has their unique version of reality, we can appreciate that two individuals can coexist in different realities, a phenomenon we have experienced throughout our lives.

To conclude, I'll share a thought-provoking quote from Philip K. Dick, author of Man in the High Castle: > “Maybe each human being lives in a unique world, a private world different from those inhabited and experienced by all other humans. . . If reality differs from person to person, can we speak of reality singular, or shouldn’t we really be talking about plural realities?”