We like to think of reality as this tangible, constant thing. There is one reality and we live in it. It moves along on this fixed thing called time, and we can interact with it, and maybe even change it so that a future reality is different from today's reality.
But as anyone knows, who has ever gotten properly hangry (so hungry you get angry), our emotions play a massive role in how we perceive reality.
My toddler causing mayhem in the living room? On a good day, I smile about her creative play, on a bad day - with little sleep and a lot of stress - the very same creative play makes me want to blow a fuse.
How we perceive the world change depending on how we feel, and it's important that we're aware of our emotional lens so that we don't let it affect our behaviour or decisions in a way that is not true to who we normally are.
So today, we'll try to take a moment to become aware and visualise our filter.
The Activity: Add your emotional filter to a photo
Step 1 - Find a photo
Go through the photos on your phone and choose one you have recently taken. It doesn't matter what it shows, but ideally, you remember the emotion you felt when the picture was taken. Were you specifically happy, grateful, or sad?
Step 2 - Check in
Sit down somewhere quiet. Close your eyes and take a few breaths. Check in with your body and your emotions. How are you feeling? Happy, tired, anxious, excited? How does this emotion show up in your body? How does the emotion feel physically?
Step 3 - Edit your filter
Use a free photo editing tool, such as Canva or Pixlr to edit your photo, so that it reflects how you're feeling. Play around with the different filters and adjustments. Whenever an edit resonates with you emotionally, keep it. You can also draw over it, or cut it if that's what you're feeling. Go on editing until you feel it's done.
Step 4 - Reflect
Look at your filtered photo. How is it different from the original? How does how you're feeling change the so-called reality? Is it brighter? Darker? Heavier? More colourful?
My Example
I took the picture above on a recent dog walk. I grew up far away from the ocean, so living so close to it now has me constantly in awe. On that day, it was especially beautiful, with the calm water at sunset, and snow all around. I remember feeling extremely grateful at that moment.
Today, things look a bit different.
As you can tell, I'm not having the best of days 😅
We were supposed to get on a plane to see family yesterday, but we had to cancel our flights because of the umpteenth preschool flu wreaking havoc in our house. Plans had to be changed, feelings are hurt, and we're sick. So I'm bummed, and I'm feeling pretty anxious.
I also miss the dog, who is at the doggy hotel we had already paid for. He wouldn't have a good time with a house full of snotty bums, but I could really use the daily obligation to go outside for a walk.
With a filter like that, I'll definitely not be making any important decisions today. And tomorrow, I'll get my headphones and take a walk to the harbour. Maybe the water will look a lot brighter again by then.
Have a great week my creative friends.
Love, Lorena