Dear Matt:

By “personal definition”/ “perspectives” then, you mean what I call make-believe thinking, convenient thinking, delusional thinking, wishful thinking- and if so, I agree- delusional thinking does not change real experience. This is why I am a big fan, a huge fan, of fitting our thinking (personal definitions, perspectives) to reality. The more congruent one’s brain is with reality, the better your real experience.

When you experience misery and depression, and your thinking about your experience does not match reality, then your experience will remain, predominantly the same. On the other hand, if your thinking regarding your misery is congruent with reality, then you have hope to heal from what ails you and to experience more and more peace of mind, contentment, and at times, that joy and drive and other good feelings you mentioned.

anita