Beyond the Illusion of Reality

One of the most difficult things about being human is to step beyond the illusion of reality and challenge the things we cling onto so tightly to preserve our understanding of reality, identity, and truth.

What if we considered the possibility that everything we know to be “real” is in fact an illusion?

What if we examined the true limitations of our individual perception?
The fact that we will never fully understand what it means to live in someone else’s shoes.
The fact that even our closest friends and easiest enemies are equally mysterious and unknown to us, with lives that we will never be able to fully know or experience for ourselves.

And from this humble place, what if we could consider the possibility that this is a natural human limitation.
Finally, a limitation that doesn’t make us less.
In fact with this truth, we are no less worthy, no less valid, no less important than any other and we can become equal to even those who in the most prestigious and revered positions.
I will never know what it is like to be them, but equally, they will never know what its like to be me.

The realization of this limitation connects us because it’s shared.
In fact, it makes being curious about everyone else’s perception that much more important.
What if all of this points to the fundamental need to consider all views?
Even those who are so easy to ignore, simplify, or even hate.
What if we could see even those opinions as equal to our own?

What if?
What would become possible if we were able to expand beyond this singular version of truth?

Maybe it would mean actually hearing each other whenever we claim we’re trying to listen.
Maybe we would actually understand each other and from that place, begin to feel understood.
Maybe we would understand faith of all kinds to be opportunities to find similarities rather than division and opposition.
Maybe we would start to believe in the goodness of our collective humanity.
And maybe from that place we would all begin to have more faith in ourselves as contributors to a common force for good and shared hope for a better future.
Maybe then, we would finally believe we are enough.

As my mind opens,
My heart wonders.

What power would we be able to harness when we begin to seek all perspectives of all people,
And from that place begin to hold onto each of beautifully unique experience, just as tightly as we hold onto our own.