Matrix living

Rene Descartes walks into a bar and orders a drink. When he finishes his drink, the bartender asks him if he would like another. Descartes replies, “No, I think not,” and disappears.

This classic joke about the 17th-century philosopher, René Descartes, is actually thought provoking.  His famous and commonly read quote is, “I think; therefore, I am.” Discourse on Method by René Descartes.   My understanding of Descartes is that he questioned everything in an effort to explain his own existence; he believed that since he had thoughts then he therefore must exist. If he “thinks not” then he doesn’t exist and therefore disappears.  His work cannot be summed up in a few short sentences but his thoughts on mind-body dualism, God, and physics…. are worth reading and contemplating. Descartes's skepticism has a “Matrix” feel to it, wondering if anything that we perceive is actually real.  If you are interested in metaphysics, learning about him is a must-read.

The philosophical beliefs in “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, are metaphysical in nature, questioning the relationship of mind and matter. Manifestation appears to be magical as we try to maneuver through improving our world with positive thinking and love. In my opinion, when we believe in ourselves, our dreams, and our desires, we are more likely to take action to succeed in our beliefs. If we doubt, we don’t try and lose faith in ourselves or give up.

Or, could it be confirmation bias?  Whether a positive or negative experience really depends on the person and how they perceive the experience.  Our belief system becomes biased in our attitude toward experiences.  If I say, “I get in the wrong line at the grocery store every time,” every time I have to wait in line due to my impatience is then confirmed. Instead, I could say that my time spent in lines at the grocery store is always interesting as I watch people and talk to strangers.  “It’s only an extra few minutes so what difference does it make?” I confirm my bias either way.  Glass empty, glass full kind of thing. The same event can happen to different people and they will each perceive it differently. 

When I change how I look at a common situation to a positive attitude, the negative effect that it can have on me is minimized.  I think the secret really is in our attitude. Whether this world is real or not, I choose to be happy in my Matrix.

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