What is Reality?
In short, this is what we describe as our waking-state surroundings. The laws of Newtonian physics we learned in school and observed in our world.
Everything follows a series of predictable patterns - what goes up must come down. Objects continue to exist even if they move out of your field of vision (object permanence).
How Do we Perceive our Surroundings
We perceive and interact with this reality system through our physiological senses.
Our ears perceive frequencies in the air and interpret them as sound.
Our olfactory neurons perceive smell via interpreting various molecules in the air.
Our taste cells perceives molecules in the food we consume and interpret that as various tastes - influenced largely by the interpretation of smells in the environment.
Our retina converts light into electrical signals which get sent to the optic nerve and converted into visual images
A wide array of somatosensory neurons in our skin interpret various environmental signals as distinct sensations sensations like gentle touch, pain, itch, warmth, and cold.
Attention and Perception
There's so much information coming at us at any one time that we've evolved a way to filter out the "useless" information. A neural network called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) is that exact filter. It helps directs your attention to what you consciously or subconsciously deem important, influencing what you notice and experience in your daily life.
Thoughts Shape Reality
If your reality is literally shaped by the perceptions of sensory input, then it stands to reason that you can alter your reality by deciding what gets filtered out.
For example, if you think your boss only wants to oppress you and ruin your life, you will focus only on any feedback or behaviors from him/her that confirm this belief - ignoring positive and/or neutral interactions. This selective attention confirms your negative belief - and influences how you act to your boss (possibly aggressive or submissive, prompting more negative behaviors from this person). This cycle gets reaffirmed and continues until you decide to shift your perception.
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