#354 Upgrading Models of Reality - Traumatic OR Gentle?

     We tend to ignore (avoidance) perceptions that don't fit our current worldview (ideas, self-concepts, preconceptions, diagnostic boxes). So we live our lives according to, identify with, & understandably cling to, stunningly simple models of reality. One way or another, we squeeze all perceptions to fit this model. Were it not so, we'd remain perpetually amazed & immobilized by this incomprehensibly complex, rapidly changing universe.
     But as time passes, we're forced to recognize discrepancies between reality & our models. Periodically, this disconnect completely overwhelms our model, causing our entire current worldview to crumble ("suffer a breakdown", "loss of faith", "existential crisis", "shipwreck" etc) and we're forced to build a new, more adequate model that's a closer approximation of reality. Initially, this can be quite traumatic, yet this is an absolutely normal part of maturation - see: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/06/shipwrecks-meaning-meaning-making.html

     Mindfulness practice is an evidence-based, surprisingly gentle, effective way of learning about reality, by intentionally, gently, slowly but progressively approaching & embracing our entire experience, including fears, and thus learning to be at home with & finding joy in this very life. It's a very effective way of constantly, intentionally upgrading our operating system, so our software doesn't need to crash.

Udayan Sankar Pal   www.facebook.com/UdayanSankarPal