Much of what you take for granted about day-to-day existence is largely a figment of your imagination.

 

(Image: Benoit Paill/Getty)

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This might come as a shock, but everything you think is wrong. Much of what you take for granted about day-to-day existence is largely a figment of your imagination. From your senses to your memory, your opinions and beliefs, how you see yourself and others and even your sense of free will, things are not as they seem. The power these delusions hold over you is staggering, yet, as Graham Lawton discovers, they are vital to help you function in the world

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SENSES

 

What you see is not what you get

 

 

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Your senses are your windows on the world, and you probably think they do a fair job at capturing an accurate depiction of reality. Don’t kid yourself

 
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PREJUDICE

Blind to bias

 

 

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Do you see the world through a veil of prejudice and self-serving hypocrisies? Or is it just other people who do that?

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MEMORY

Head full of half-truths

 

 

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One of the most important components of your self-identity – your autobiographical memory – is little more than an illusion

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SELF-IMAGE

Egotist, moi?

 

 

 

Most drivers think they’re better than average. Most people think they’re less likely to have an inflated self-opinion than average. See the problem?

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FREE WILL

Who’s in control?

 

The more we learn about the brain, the less plausible it becomes that we have free will

 

 

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SOURCE

 

Let us remove violence and war from our hearts and strive to build and grow.

 

 

We are faced with the problem of serious violence today. Not only the revolts that are currently sweeping the middle east, but the spreading of hatred and violence, black against white or Christian against Muslim. There is the brutality of extraordinary violence that humans carry in their hearts and minds notwithstanding outwardly educated, conditioned to repeat prayers for peace and stability.

 

This form of violence is the result of political and racial divisions and religious distinctions. The violence of man has obviously been inherited from the animal and from the society in which he lives. Man is committed to war and accepted war as the way of life. There may be a few pacifists here and there that carry anti-war slogans, but there are those who love war. We must not forget that many that bask in their current “leadership” roles need war and fragmented societies. The more problems that they seem to attempt to solve the more respect they receive from the societies that support them.

 

It is their job to see to it that wars and problems are retained. It is their bread and butter to role play the role of mediator and leader. Unity between races for example will not be conducive to their careers. Job security for these individuals can only be achieved by for example reminding the people about the past when appears as if previous fractured groups (race or religion) begin to find mutual ground for cooperation. The fires need to be stoked about the past and the potential future if such individuals want to continue to bask in the sunshine of the current benefits (financial or egotistical) that they enjoy.

 

Most gestures by the war in their hearts type of leaders is not based on a desire for a successful outcome. I explained earlier that these people need war, violence, division and desperation. They need to wake up from horror dreams of a society that put the past behind them and decided to stop stoking the fires of division and hate. Their nightmare is an equal society where people work shoulder to shoulder to rebuild this country notwithstanding the past. Can you think what shock will it be for those that will then have to come to the office and do a job where they will be held accountable? It will be a difficult time for many that have little or no knowledge and skills when it comes to problem solving and management. Let us remove violence and war from our hearts and strive to build and grow with or without those that might still go around with their warmongering habit patterns.

 

Rene