A Reality Journey through Science, Subjectivity, and the Wisdom of Age #14 #cong23 #reality

Synopsis:

In exploring the concept of Reality, my perspective has evolved to encompass both scientific objectivity and personal subjectivity. I’ve found that reality is a multi-layered construct, shaped by measurable facts but deeply influenced by individual experiences and emotions. This nuanced understanding, further enriched by ageing, drives me to continuously examine life’s complexities, from the tangible world to the intangible aspects of human perception and beliefs. The Reality, as I’ve come to define it today (yes, today, as it’ll most certainly change again in the future), is an intricate tapestry of fact and feeling.

Total Words

819

Reading Time in Minutes

3

Key Takeaways:

  1. Reality is multi-dimensional
  2. Reality is best understood when scientific truths are interwoven with philosophical insights
  3. Perception shapes reality
  4. Understanding of Reality deepens with age

About Stan McGowan:

Branding and Digital Marketing Don Quixote turning the marketing industry on its head with a revolutionary Pay-On-Performance model. I enjoy spending time with my family & kids, making music, photography/videography, cooking, and swimming.

Contacting Stan McGowan:

You can connect with Stan via email or LinkedIn.

By Stan McGowan

In my years of grappling with the concept of Reality, my understanding has deepened, shaped mainly by the passage of time and the accumulation of experiences. The perspective I’ve gained isn’t easily confined to a single line of thought, as it spans the scientific and the subjective, the measurable and the intangible, bringing me to recognise that reality is a tapestry stitched with intricate threads of fact and feeling.

My grounding as an agnostic means that I have a profound respect for science and what we can objectively observe in the universe, yet life has taught me that pure objectivity doesn’t entirely capture the essence of reality. Consider pain. Science can chart the neural pathways that light up during physical pain, giving us readings and measurements, but the realm of emotional pain, such as the agony anyone can feel during loss, failure, or disappointment, is far more elusive. What unit could possibly measure the despair one feels when grieving the loss of a loved one or the intensity of betrayal? The paradox here is that while science can give us objective metrics, the subjective experience of each individual adds layers of nuance to the definition of reality.

This blending of subjective experience with objective truths extends to how we interpret our surroundings. The physical universe exists, measurable and concrete; however, our mental states, such as our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, act as prisms through which we view this physical reality. Our subjective minds influence how we interpret and react to objective events, creating a complex overlay where science and philosophy intertwine. While science offers the tools and metrics to understand the “How”, philosophy grapples with the “Why”. One tells us how the world is, and the other tells us what it might mean, but in my eyes, you need both for a full-spectrum understanding of reality.

But perception is the real game-changer in the narrative of what we consider to be Real, and I’ve come to realise that what we see, or choose to see, is often just a fraction of what is truly there. Take a simple object as an example. Viewed from different angles, the same object can look entirely different. Now apply that metaphor to life itself. The gif below demonstrates there could be multiple angles and points of view to a single thing or event, and all of them make perfect sense when reviewed under the same perspective.

Think of how social media and marketing present curated snapshots of other people’s lives, often projecting a facade that rarely mirrors the full reality. Or how media can choose to tell a story, shaping public opinion and, in a sense, creating a ‘shared reality’ that may not align with individual experience.

As I’ve aged, this kaleidoscopic view of reality has only become more acute. Where once I might have been content with surface-level understandings, I now find myself contemplating the complexities of life more deeply. In my youth, the realities of mortality, responsibility, and the consequences of my choices were often background noise and easy to ignore. But age has brought them to the forefront, making me acutely aware of their weight. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. It’s a stage in life when the abstract becomes concrete, and the distant becomes immediate. So these are the layers of reality that age unearths, underscoring the importance of recognising life’s complexities and acknowledging that reality is indeed a multi-layered, multi-sided construction.

Reality, as I’ve come to know it, is a multi-dimensional concept, a blend of science and subjectivity, facts and perceptions, the concrete and the abstract. And as the years continue to roll by, I find myself more engrossed in its intricate tapestry, eager to explore and learn every weave and thread. At least, that’s how I see it.

Unlock your purpose to achieve your goals! #3 #cong22

Synopsis:

In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of everyday life and let your passions take a backseat. While it might be important to have a career you truly love and care about, it’s even more important to have a purpose. If you find that the things you do every day don’t necessarily align with who you are as a person and your passions, then it might be time to unlock your purpose and achieve your goals. To enjoy a fulfilled and happy life, I think everyone needs to understand our core values and beliefs about what is important in life. Unlocking your purpose is not just about finding out what makes you tick; it can also help you find fulfilment in the things that matter most to you. With some self-reflection, dedication, and practice, unlocking your purpose can be easier than ever before.

Total Words

1,154

Reading Time in Minutes

5

Key Takeaways:

  1. Start with Why
  2. Discover your values
  3. Look at your strength and skills
  4. Find out what you love to do most

About Stan McGowan

Branding and Digital Marketing expert who enjoys spending time with family & kids, doing music, photography, cooking, and swimming 😀

Contacting Stan McGowan

You can find out more about Stan on StanMcGowan

By Stan McGowan

In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of everyday life and let your passions take a backseat. While it might be important to have a career you truly love and care about, it’s even more important to have a purpose. If you find that the things you do every day don’t necessarily align with who you are as a person and your passions, then it might be time to unlock your purpose and achieve your goals. To enjoy a fulfilled and happy life, I think everyone needs to understand our core values and beliefs about what is important in life. Unlocking your purpose is not just about finding out what makes you tick; it can also help you find fulfilment in the things that matter most to you. With some self-reflection, dedication, and practice, unlocking your purpose can be easier than ever before.

What is Your Purpose?
Purpose is the reason why you exist. It is the reason why you get up in the morning and do what you do. It is the reason you exist. Finding your purpose is the holy grail of life; this is what psychologists, philosophers, and self-help gurus have talked about for decades. The more you learn to know about yourself, the easier and more fulfilling it will be for you to find your purpose.

Start with why.
Finding your reason for doing something can help you unlock your purpose. We naturally do what we enjoy and what we find meaningful, and when you understand why you are doing something particularly, you can put more energy and passion into it. This applies to any career or field of study. If you pursue a certain degree, you need to know why you are doing it. If you have a core desire and an overarching reason for making a particular career choice, it will help you focus on what is most important in your life. Doing what you love and what you are passionate about doesn’t just make you more productive, it also gives you a genuine sense of fulfilment. But don’t get caught up in pursuing the enjoyment of spending hours daily scrolling through social media timelines. Of course, if only it’s not what you do for a living as, for example, a social media marketer, which can also be considered as purpose, but those are rather rare occurrences.

Discover your values.
First, you need to discover your values, which are the guiding principles that you live by and are the things that are most important to you. They can be anything from having a fulfilling family life to making a difference in the world by engaging in community work or helping others. You might have certain beliefs about religion or social justice, and these can also be considered values. Understanding your core values can help you figure out what your purpose is, and having core values and a purpose in life can be an enormous source of motivation. When you know your values, making decisions that align with your personal beliefs will be easier. For example, if you know that having a healthy work-life balance is a core value, then accepting a promotion might be easier. If you have no clue what your values are, then you will have to spend time figuring them out. This could be a long and involved process, so make sure you are committed to the task. But the majority of people I know or spoke with agree that the Covid pandemic has made them rethink their values and what’s important in their lives today.

Look at your strengths and skills.
If you know your core values, you can start to look at your life and see what areas fit with these values. You can also try a strengths-based approach to help you identify your top strengths. For example, what are the things that make you feel most productive and engaged? Knowing your strengths and skills can also give you ideas about how to use them to pursue your purpose in life. For example, if you consider yourself a good public speaker, you might want to get involved in advocacy work. If you have a mathematical/analytical mindset, you might want to use those skills to pursue a career in data science.

Find out what you love to do.
This can be the same as finding out what you are good at. It can also be helpful to try different things and see what really excites you. Doing something you truly love and are passionate about can help unlock your purpose. This can also be related to your core values. For example, if you have a core value of helping others, then you can use that to narrow down what you love to do. You might love working with children or helping the elderly. You might love writing or programming. You might love playing music or singing. Use your values as a filter, and you will naturally be drawn to the things that you love to do.

Finally, finding your purpose isn’t an easy task. It may take a lot of self-reflection and soul-searching. It might even be a lifelong journey where you make new discoveries about yourself over time. However, it’s important to make unlocking your purpose a priority. It can help you have a more fulfilled and happy life. It can also help you achieve your goals and lead a more meaningful life. With some self-reflection, dedication, and practice, you can unlock your purpose and achieve your goals faster than ever before.