Focus Illusion

Expectation exaggerates facts and the reality. If one is desperate for something and somebody, then desperation gets multiplied.

As a kid, I used to wait for Christmas day, as if it is going to be the greatest and happiest day. But every Christmas passed away just like any other day with minor differences.

Mind creates and exaggerates every positive expectation beyond its true manifestation. It adds more color and spice and makes it much bigger than what could happen in reality. So when the D-day comes, the most waited person or thing arrives, nothing much happens, it is pleasant but nothing out of the world experience. We have exaggerated so much in our anticipation; the reality fails to measure up to the expectation. Thus even after some positive thing has taken place, we remain disappointed. And it is called focus illusion, too much of a focus, moves things out of focus.

But the good thing is that it works in the opposite direction too. If something worse we expect to happen, then when that worst thing occurs, it won’t be that bad as we have expected. The real pain won’t be as painful as we have imagined and anticipated. Only drawback is that we might have lived in negative mood; fretting, condemning and self-pitying for considerable amount of time.

Is ‘focus illusion’ good or bad? Whether we like it or not, our minds operate in this manner, the sensible thing will be to become aware of it and avoid as much as possible. In case we are addicted to prolonged miseries or euphoria, then ‘focus illusion’ is the way to live our life.