Perceiving Reality

Life satisfaction is correlated more to a person’s inward state, than to a person’s outward circumstances. This concept is the key to understanding the science behind happiness. In our culture we often assume that the circumstances of our external world predict our happiness. But in reality, psychologists say if they know everything about ones external world, they can only predict 10 percent of that persons long-term happiness. This means 90 percent of long-term happiness is predicted by the lens through which one sees the external world—not necessarily how it really is.

Reality is relative. In fact, reality may be perceived as different for two people in the same circumstances. Personal reality comes through how one inwardly see the world. My definition of reality is the lens through which the brain views the world. That lens is what shapes individual reality. If we can change our perspective—by changing the lens through which we view the world—we can control our happiness.