Patricia Lynn Belkowitz, M.Msc., C.Ht., EFT

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Reality is a tricky thing. It’s not the same for everyone. Anais Nin said, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Each one of us creates our own reality based on our past experiences; our beliefs; our subconscious programming. It is our lifescript. We decide what is real based on the state of things as they are or appear to be. Timothy Leary coined the term Reality Tunnel, meaning a kind of realism that represents the individual world each person occupies. The theory states that, with a subconscious set of mental filters formed by beliefs and experiences, everyone interprets the same world differently. In other words, “Truth is in the eye of the beholder.”

The term Reality Tunnel can also apply to groups of people united by beliefs. We might share religious beliefs. Or share ideas about our particular ethnic heritage or country. Certainly as citizens of planet Earth, we do share some common beliefs about what is real, but we all live in our own individual Universe. When you consider that two people sitting opposite each other are experiencing a completely unique view of their surroundings, it’s easy to see how each individual’s perception of the location will be different. In fact, it is impossible for it to be the same. Each one is experiencing a different view of reality.

I have come to realize that Facebook is my own little Universe. And it is yours too! Each one of us has created our own version of reality. If Facebook were a country, its population would match that of China, the most populous country on Earth! As of the second quarter of 2015, Facebook had 1.49 billion monthly active users. That means roughly half of all Internet users on the planet use the site. And each one of those users has a different reality.

Your Facebook page reflects your inner reality and what you believe is important to share with the outside world. It reflects your sense of humor; your political and spiritual beliefs; your day-to-day life experience. You decide what is worthy of posting. Most of us post photos and videos. Some of us complain. Some of us inform and inspire; others educate or instigate. Some post recipes or evidence of them. Some post things that make you laugh or cry. Some share love and some share hate. Some of us share way too much!!! Each individual page is an individual Reality Tunnel. It is a visible representation of the thoughts and beliefs in the invisible world of each person’s mind.

And then there is the News Feed. Another unique reflection of you because it reflects your friends’ thoughts and beliefs. And remember what your mama told you…we are influenced by the company we keep. The average Facebook user has 130 friends and is connected to 80 pages or groups. The News Feed is the collective Reality Tunnel which reinforces your beliefs and your view of the world. It literally feeds you the news which reflects and reinforces your view of reality. It is also your opportunity to observe and judge other people’s lives. You have the option to “like” whatever your friend has said. You can agree or disagree and make your opinions known. You can “comment”. If it’s something you feel strongly about, you can feed the news to your other friends by choosing to “share”. And then connections happen and your Universe expands.

Perhaps you can do a little experiment with one of your real life friends. Log on to each other’s Facebook account and take a look at the News Feed. You may feel as if you are visiting a foreign country…as if you are a stranger in a strange land. You can learn from this. You can experience the world in a different way with new perspectives and ideas. You can enter a new Reality Tunnel to take a look around. There may be thoughts you want to bring back with you. Remember reality is constantly changing. You are in control of what you focus your thoughts upon. In other words, you are in control of what you post. And you are also in control of what you choose to “like” and “share” with others. You are not just creating your Facebook page, you are creating your own Reality Tunnel… your own Universe. You have the power to make it Amazing!