Thinking is not reality, but rather a process through which individuals interpret and construct their understanding of reality. While thoughts are real in the sense that they occur within one's mind, they do not inherently possess the objective, verifiable nature of facts or external reality [1] [2] [3].

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The distinction between thinking and reality is a fundamental concept in cognitive science, psychology, and philosophy. Reality, in an objective sense, refers to what "is" – verifiable states of affairs, independent of individual perception or belief [4] [5]. For example, the Earth being approximately 93 million miles from the Sun is an empirically true fact, regardless of whether someone believes it or not [4]. Similarly, water boiling at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (at sea level) is a consistent reality, unaffected by individual thoughts or perceptions [6].

Thoughts, on the other hand, are internal mental constructs. They are products of the mind, appearing within an individual's awareness but not existing as tangible objects in the external world [2] [7]. While thoughts can feel incredibly real and compelling, they are subjective and can be influenced by emotions, biases, and past experiences [3] [8]. For instance, feeling angry about a situation does not automatically mean there is an objective reason to be angry; the feeling is a subjective experience [3].

Cognitive science emphasizes that our thinking processes actively shape our perceived reality [1]. Our thoughts, especially when repeated and assigned truth, become beliefs that act as cognitive lenses, filtering how we interpret events [1]. This selective filtering, often referred to as priming, means that our brains are predisposed to seek evidence that confirms existing beliefs, potentially overlooking contradictory information [1]. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where our actions, driven by our beliefs, bring about the outcomes we expect [1]. For example, if someone believes they are not attractive enough, they might fixate on a single negative comment while dismissing numerous positive ones, reinforcing their initial belief [1].

The field of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) highlights the importance of "defusion," which involves recognizing thoughts as mere products of the mind rather than absolute facts [5]. This allows individuals to distance themselves from unhelpful thoughts and assess their value, focusing on what is helpful or workable rather than solely on their factual accuracy [5]. Similarly, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) incorporates "reality testing" to help individuals critically evaluate their thoughts and feelings against objective evidence [3].

While emotions are real and provide valuable information about our needs and experiences, they are not facts [8]. Confusing feelings with facts can lead to skewed decision-making, misunderstandings in relationships, and negative impacts on mental health [8]. For neurodivergent individuals, past experiences of negative feedback can create a tendency to internalize perceived negativity, even when it's unrelated to them, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle [8].

Therefore, thinking is not reality because thoughts are subjective, internal mental processes, whereas reality refers to objective, verifiable states of affairs independent of individual perception. Our thoughts create our perception of reality, but they do not inherently constitute reality itself [1] [8].

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