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A recent observation and question for you and me about our relationship to the world:

1. Do you believe that we observe nature and then formulate our beliefs about reality from what we observe?

2. Or, do you believe that we hold beliefs about reality and then later find evidence for these beliefs in nature?

I can say that I used to believe number one was true, and now I believe number two to be the truth.

Number one is the standard materialistic view of the universe where nature and matter exist outside of us; we observe it, then we make conclusions about what we observed. In this way we build our knowledge of what reality is. Science becomes the ultimate vehicle for determining what is true by cataloging our observations and leading us to draw certain conclusions based on these observations.

One question that arises from this view is, What role do human beings play in our reality if we believe all of what is real lies only outside of us? If it is true that humans can’t change their reality and only observe it then it seems that we are victims of circumstance. Something about that just doesn’t sit right with me.

Over time I grew to understand the second statement and ultimately embrace it as the truth. I now believe we hold certain things to be true and then what we observe is evidence that does or does not support it. This view is in alignment with so-called New Age views. I started to notice that by believing in the possibility of spiritual truths I began to have more experiences that provided evidence of a spiritual dimension. An open mind allowed me to let in the possibility of new truths, truths I did not notice with a closed mind. Over time I began to see that the things we experience in life are the result of our thoughts. If we change our thoughts, we change our experience.

Our beliefs color our observations

It should be noted that just because we believe a thing to be true doesn’t mean it is. Believing something is true before we have evidence for it does not mean we know it is true, it just means that we are open to receive all information. We still have to be discerning in collecting information and in forming our beliefs about reality. Science is indispensable, but, in order to form a complete picture of reality it needs to be coupled with the larger truth that our thoughts form our experiences.

I used to be the person who believed he was wrong at everything, and I always found evidence to support that belief. Now, I know that I am not wrong about everything so I am not fixed in the same kind of self-defeating observations as before. My thoughts about myself, other people and society have changed, and so have my experiences. I can see now that reality is not limited to what we can observe but is intimately tied into the unlimited imagination.