Reality and imagination

When kids are homeschooling and parents are working on their own business, there is a lot of freedom. No school bus' blaring horn, no boss breathing down your neck. And nights of Netflix fun! What a life, right? But don't be fooled; there's a balancing act happening here—a dance between reality and imagination in our bustling household.

For us, juggling homeschooling and work, self-discipline is our guiding star.

Yet, there are those days—weekdays, in fact—when we give in to the temptation of a Netflix binge. Guilty as charged! 🙈

Result? Kids snoozing longer into the morning.

Late wake-ups lead to delayed breakfast and a later start to our work. I'd feel worried and sluggish...My reality—Oh no, a bad day ahead 😟

Now, let's say I start the day with an early morning run.

The same sleepy kids when I return, but an adrenaline rush from my run paints a different reality. Optimism is on its high. This time, I'm seeing opportunities despite the late start—How do we make it the most productive day of the week?

Same situation, a different reality.

Which one is the ‘real’ reality? 

It makes you wonder, is there even such a thing as true reality? Is it just our perception? And how much power do we have over reality's reins?

It's not just about different days for the same person; it's also about people in similar situations seeing things differently.

If you grew up in a Nordic town where sunshine was a feast to the eyes, you are right to call it a cloud day a gloomy day. But if you grew up under hot Indian skies like me, rain and clouds bring joy.

It’s like each of us is living in a Matrix that we have created for ourselves.

According to brain wizard Lisa Feldman Barrett, reality is like a puzzle pieced together from two things:

• What we sense from the outside world.

• What our brain deciphers internally.

How does our brain decipher signals? The most important factor is past experiences.

Past experiences—Architect of our reality

As the brain is fitted tightly in this box called the skull, it doesn’t really see the world….it just receives signals. e.g., a loud noise that can be thunder, a door slamming, or a gunshot!

Your first reaction to a sudden, loud noise depends on your past experience.

For a kid raised amidst jet roars, it's thrilling. But for someone unfamiliar, it's a shock.

Recent memories are potent too. If you've felt an earthquake, even a drill can startle you.

So can we break free from past experiences? Here, we have a lot to learn from kids.

Sprinkle imagination—Elevate reality

Instead of sticking to the same old, what if we let imagination tag along? Kids ace this because they have fewer past experiences to rely on, unlike us.

Imagine your routine sprinkled with "What if?" Suddenly, life gets a makeover.

A late morning can become a challenge—a chance to be super productive despite the slow start.

But imagination isn't just for mornings. It's your key to unlocking creativity in all aspects of life. Turn meetings into idea hubs. Turn routine tasks into playful grounds for problem-solving.

As we navigate this dance between reality and imagination, remember: reality isn't a stone tablet; it's more like a kaleidoscope. Just like sunshine transforms glass into a rainbow, our outlook can turn everyday moments into marvels. Whether it's a brighter morning or innovative solutions, we hold the brush to paint our canvas. With optimism and imagination, let's create a masterpiece of possibilities in every moment.