Has anyone ever told you “it’s all in your head?”
Do you think it’s true?
I was working outside yesterday, enjoying a wonderful late-Autumn day. A man approached on the sidewalk, towing his little boy in a wagon. Dad stared straight ahead, and I could hear him talking. As they passed I could see the wireless earpiece, so at least he wasn’t carrying on an audible conversation with himself.
The little boy wasn’t in a toy wagon on a suburban street—he was engaged in a furious struggle for survival. He faced backward, and I heard the sound effects as he fought off imaginary pursuers. Hands formed invisible weapons, voice relayed a stream of gunfire and explosions, and he celebrated as the enemies fell before his relentless defenses.
I stopped typing and watched as they crossed the street and headed down the bike trail. Dad still talked, gesturing occasionally with his hands to emphasize an important point, while junior defended their convoy from an apparently endless supply of attackers. The crashes became louder, the defensive actions more animated.
Dad was oblivious to the epic battle occurring behind him. Junior was unaware that a life-and death business deal hinged on Dad’s every word.
They were truly in different worlds.
Neither of them experienced an unusually warm November afternoon. Junior fought heroically against overwhelming odds to prevent his destruction. Dad solved an important problem for a customer or helped a coworker with a difficult challenge.
I was struck by the nature of our radically different perceptions. I thought this was a chance to sneak an hour in the sunshine while I pretended to work. Dad saw a few quiet moments away from the computer in which to focus on an essential conversation. Junior perceived invading armies.
Same surroundings, same weather, exactly identical external circumstances.
But this warm afternoon was an excuse to goof off, an opportunity to communicate, or a struggle for survival.
Completely different experiences—and the differences were “all in our heads.”
How much of my joy or sorrow, triumph or struggle, excitement or despair, are determined by my own thoughts and perceptions?
How much of what I blame on circumstances I can’t control is really totally within my control?
We “adults” might chuckle at Junior’s pretend war. But how many imaginary battles do I fight in my own thoughts? How often do I turn a simple comment into a soul-scarring criticism?
How often do I miss God’s grace simply because I don’t look for it?
It’s all in my head? Nah—that’s too simplistic.
But I suspect most of what really matters happens in the five inches between my ears.
What’s your take?
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