Do we live in reality or in a version of reality that we ourselves create? A question that philosophy has asked since its beginnings, but which remains just as alive today – in an era where every person lives in a world built by their own perceptions, feelings and experiences. Because perhaps the truth is not one, but as many as the eyes that see it.
Reality as an internal mirror
We think we see the world as it is, but in reality we see it as we are. Every experience, every feeling, every memory creates a filter through which we perceive everything around us. When we are happy, the world seems brighter; when we are hurt, even the light seems dimmer. Thus, reality is not a stable picture, but a mirror that reflects our inner state.
Personal truth
Each of us has a “personal truth” – a system of beliefs, experiences and definitions that shape the way we understand life. This truth is not necessarily absolute, but it is authentic. It comes from our history, from the joys and wounds we have carried, from the way we love and fear. Therefore, when two people experience the same reality in different ways, neither is wrong – they are simply living in their own truth.
The illusion that protects us
Illusion is not always a deception; sometimes it is a shield. It helps us to face reality, to maintain hope, to find meaning in chaos. Man needs to believe in something beyond the visible, in a dream, in an interpretation that gives color to life. Illusion becomes dangerous only when it replaces the truth, when it makes us lose touch with reality.
The balance between perception and reality
The art of living lies in the ability to distinguish between what we feel and what is. To know when our emotions are coloring reality and when reality is shaping our emotions. To understand that although we cannot always control the world, we can change the way we see it.
In the end, perhaps truth and illusion are not opponents, but fellow travelers. One keeps us grounded, the other teaches us to dream. And between them, somewhere between reality and imagination, lies life – with all its beauty, ambiguity, and mystery.
Photo by R. Swafford: https://www.pexels.com/photo/human-eye-closeup-photo-801867/
