Whatever the outside world is really like, we use our senses to explore and map it. The world is an infinity of possible sense impressions and we are only able to perceive a very small part of it. That part we can perceive is further filtered by our unique experiences, culture, language, beliefs, values, interests, and assumptions. Everyone lives in their unique reality built from their sense impressions and individual experiences of life, and we act on the basis of what we perceive our model of the world. Very narrow beliefs, interests and perceptions will make the world impoverished, predictable and dull. The very same world can be rich and exciting. The difference lies not in the world, but through the filters in which we perceive it.
Joseph O’Connor