Who am I?

This is a question that is difficult to answer in a direct manner. What tendencies do we have? How will we react to a given situation in a given moment? It may seem that we are not so connected to our inner self but I think that if we observe carefully at what we care about in a given situation, we will start to find the answer. For example, most parents will do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of their family in a perilous situation and the way they respond is a reflection of their inner self. By believing in something and acting upon it with our heart, our true self becomes evident.

When we care about something our thoughts are dominated by it. For some it may be the love of a spouse, the well-being of a new-born child, the football match or the legacy we leave for future generations.  In these situations our principles, values, beliefs, intentions and experiences are activated, and reflect a part of who we are. Our feelings surface when we really care about something and we express them with a variety of emotions including happiness, anger, love and anxiety. Our behavior is generally a manifestation of our thoughts in the physical world and an important component of our communication.

I believe we are defined by our thoughts, feelings and behavior. If we want to know ourselves better then it is imperative to start with our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious. For example, how would you feel if a stranger forbids you to do something? Even though this may appear to be a logical issue such as minimizing risk, it's a sure thing there will be an underlying emotional issue such as the need for freedom, that may generate discord.  To study our thoughts we must live the moment and pay close attention to how they affect our daily experience.

If we are not defined by our thoughts then it is easy to think that in essence we are the way we are and there is no need to change. For me the danger in this attitude is that we can go through our entire lives surviving the nightmares of our reality time and time again. Life has shown us what happens when we try to impose our will on nature, for example by changing the course of a river. When things go wrong because the river returns to its original course, many of us end up asking ourselves why life dealt us this card.

Cogito, ergo sum. René Descartes used this expression "I think, therefore I am" as a proposal for existence, later concluding with "I am, I exist". For me this expression describes the connection between our thoughts and our existence. It could be said that our thoughts create our reality and I believe that in many respects this is true.

I think that among the more important aspects of our human condition is to be conscious of our thoughts, decisions, emotions and actions. It is precisely these elements that define a part of who we are. Being conscious goes beyond being aware of our reality and it requires paying attention to the present moment. For me this implies participating actively in life in such a way that we are open to the situations we create, taking full responsibility for the thoughts, decisions, emotions and actions that originate from us. That is why I think that the great masterpieces of humanity are created when we challenge ourselves to be the best we can be. If we assume an attitude of constant search for our truth, and help others along the way, we shall find the treasures that this life has to offer us, such as the unconditional love of our family.

What is reality to me?

For some of us it could be the intense traffic we wade through in the morning. Queue after queue of metal, rubber and fumes. A giant sea of red and white lights framed by asphalt and concrete between your destination and you. The feeling of anguish grows as you feel you have wasted hour upon hour of your life incessantly alternating every few meters between the gas and the brake. Just when you feel you can take no more of this feeling of being trapped, you stop and think whether this is the reality you want to live.

Is our reality only what we see? There are people who try to adapt by making their journey more comfortable. Others try to avoid it altogether by working from home. Yet the feeling of being trapped continues to mark our existence. Is what you are seeing a reflection of how you feel inside? Do you feel your life is an uphill battle and that you are trapped between a rock and a hard place?

Maybe reality is a reflection of our existence. In other words, because we exist we are able to perceive our reality. Even if we could instantly transport ourselves from one place to another we would probably still think, feel and act like if we were in a reality that limits us. In this sense our human characteristics play a very important role. Our brains are capable of processing huge amounts of information generated internally and by our senses. Yet we choose to filter and judge what we perceive by adapting our individual mental constructs that define our reality.

For many of us reality has come to mean the universe of objects we agree are perceived to exist without our presence. In other words we could believe that intense traffic is an entity that exists on its own and generates anguish within us. I find this definition limiting because it does not take fully into account our perception of reality as humans, particularly in terms of concepts and ideas. For example, the concept of property exists in our collective minds and it can have as much meaning to us as any wall we consider as real.

The connection between our existence and our reality is a duality that is inherent in our human condition. I think that our abilities as humans allow us to observe, classify and create our realities. We are the ones who divide things with our mental models and creations, such as driving in lanes. The universe could be one giant information entity which exists without us, but that means nothing unless we are there to observe it. For example, it is improbable that another species would find meaning in a traffic light and stop when it is red unless it is trained to do so by us. On the other hand we wouldn't exist without the universe and it is important for us to understand that we are a part of something bigger.

It is my belief that philosophy takes on a lot of meaning when we study it from the human perspective. We as humans may cling to our individual realities but our search for the truth will prevail. There is always another way to see things. In situations that we consider difficult we can always apply an endless list of ideas and solutions. In this sense I hope that this blog will serve us as a means to share our ideas and help each other on our paths to discovering the mystery of life.