Face Reality
There are many different types of reality in the world we live in today. Reality can be viewed through the lens of diverse disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, and technology. The reality I would like to write about comes from the Oxford Dictionary's definition of reality: "the true situation and the problems that actually exist in life, in contrast to how you would like life to be." For me, this definition describes how I view life through my lens and how I live it every single day.
As I've gotten older, I've noticed not everyone lives in this definition of reality. I was shocked to see how many people lived in some sort of alternative universe or fantasy world and avoided their problems and responsibilities altogether. Barring any major abuse or trauma, people that are trying to avoid their reality do everything they can to escape, only to come back and find out their problems are still there waiting for them. I can't live in that kind of state. It's disingenuous. It's temporary. More importantly, it's a complete waste of time. The people living in this fantasy world need to come back down to earth with the rest of us and face reality.
Whenever you find yourself in a predicament, a conundrum, a kerfuffle, and you're sitting there in the aftermath of it all, the first thing you must do is face reality. Ask yourself, "What is the reality of this situation?" If you stop to think of what the reality of it is and face it head on, you can take responsibility for your actions from the start and proceed to solve your quandary. If you sit there and blame everyone else for your mistakes, you are unable to get yourself back on the right track. This type of thinking will lead you down the wrong path and cause you to carry this heavy load with you for years to come while continually blaming others for your mistakes and shortcomings. Like I've said before, we’re human. We all mess up. Everyone understands that. However, it's what you do after you falter that makes you the person you are today.
For instance, let's say you stupidly tried to drive home drunk one night after work. A police officer pulls you over and arrests you for DUI. Now what do you do? Are you the type to blame your friends for not giving you a ride home? Blame the bartender for not cutting you off sooner? Blame the cop that pulled you over? Claim you were being targeted? You could. But where will that get you? Absolutely nowhere! Those are all just excuses that won’t change anything now. So, what do you do? That's right, face reality. What is the reality of your situation? Well, you now have a DUI on your record. Your driver's license will be suspended. You will pay thousands of dollars in tickets and fines. You may even have to do jail time. Sounds terrible, but this is your new reality. Face it. Accept it. Do something about it.
No matter what your circumstances are, you must take responsibility for your actions. That's first and foremost. If you can't do that, forget about facing reality because clearly, you're living in a fantasy world already. I think that's what my Dad was trying to convey to my brother and I when he taught us "Rule #1”: Face Reality. My Dad wanted us to acknowledge the aftermath of our state of affairs, accept this new reality, and implement a plan of action to correct or live in this new reality. Sometimes, things are not your fault, but it's your responsibility to take action. Even not making a decision is making a decision. So go out there, take action, and change your reality.
Disclaimer: I started this blog as more of a therapeutic journal to document and share my life with others who are interested in listening. My blog posts will solely be based on my thoughts, opinions, and experiences as I work on my own path towards Mental Wealth. As I acquire new information along the way, my stance may change to reflect the new things I’ve learned. I, too, am a work in progress so please be patient, be kind, and bear with me. Thank you. - CM