The Nature of Reality & Being Pushed to Your Limits

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We Are Primal Beings

When pushed to our limits we react in a variety of ways. Fight back, flee, or freeze? After some ‘hopefully’ non-reactive thought, we choose how we will respond. Having been through a great deal in the last few years, choosing a personal path to follow has become the norm. As people reach their limits, many struggle to maintain balance—some find ways to grow and excel, while others face significant challenges. Throughout history we have witnessed the best and the worst in people.

The psychological chess game of life rules the world, and we are the pawns. Sheer perseverance has gotten people through much of the quagmire. As they say, “Whatever gets you through the night!” On the flip side, consider the rise in mental health issues – anxiety, depression, and burnout. As people reach their limits, many struggle to maintain balance—some manage to adapt and thrive, while others face significant challenges.

Crisis Can be a Catalyst for Transformation

A persons true nature shines through during a crisis, stripping the facade away. It’s when we become the ‘observer of self’ that things get interesting. We may see ourselves become stronger, finding inner courage we did not know we were capable of. Resorting back to old habits can wake us up to adopting healthier habits, or new ways of adapting to life. How wonderful to become kinder and more altruistic. Crisis brings change, any way you look at it. I like to think that societal pressures can push people to come up with creative ways to reshape the future.

Illusion of Control vs The Nature of Reality

Illusions often shatter. I, like many of you, am living in a chaotic, unpredictable world. The strong system I was taught to believe in has become very fragile. Over many years, I have become much more discerning, questioning everything. What is true, manufactured, or illusion? How do I find comfort when I am out in the world when it’s like observing an episode of the twilight zone? What do I believe about the outer world, and how do these beliefs affect my inner reality?

I ask myself about the nature of reality. We have immersive virtual reality worlds, gaming, social media, AI, and a digital world some think of as the nature of reality in their world. Are we living in a computer simulation? Many say we are. The nature of reality for my husband and myself, is living and communing with nature throughout the day. As the world spins out of control, we find peace in each other, at home, in nature, and in the sanctuaries we create. I remind myself that feeling at peace wherever I am is VIP. It’s not easy, but as the saying goes, “Wherever you go, there you are.”

Being Pushed to Your Limit

There is extreme polarization everywhere. In families, communities, social media, economics, politics, and in outer society worldwide. This definitely pushes people to the limit. A division that for many will never be healed. I find this “us vs them” mentality terribly sad.

Back to social media and the media for a hot minute. Our stress and anxiety levels rise when we are constantly exposed to negative aspects of reality. Living in a world of algorithms interferes in every aspect of our lives, leaving less time for real life. This can create judgement, fear, chaos and separation.

Hope is a Path Forward

I ask people, if we don’t have hope, what do we have? I love the word hope-ium. When things are challenging, hope keeps up moving forward. I want to trust that things can improve in the outer world, communities, institutions, and organizations people have believed in, and many have lost faith in. Who to trust and why?

Our future is fragile and needs to be resilient – for all of us. Grassroots movement and collective action is a start. Helping our neighbors out, supporting each other, not judging which ‘side’ we are on. In times of crises there is potential for positive change. This world can be better, we can be better.

What’s the Conclusion?

We all feel a sense of urgency at this moment in time. I like to think most people carry hope in their hearts. I believe we are more resilient and adaptable than we know. The nature of reality can feel fragile – yet, in this fragility there is potential for transformation, a clearer sense of purpose to navigate our lives, and the world we live in and share.

In the midst of a chaotic world, it is only by living fully in the present that our intuition sharpens, our decisions align with deeper truths, and we rediscover the transformative power of gratitude, anchoring us with a profound sense of mental well-being. We’ve got this!