Have you heard the story about the Native Americans who could not see the Mayflower as it approached? According to legend, they could only see the effects of the ship on the water; but because their brains had never conceived of such a vessel, they were unable to visualize it.

This sounds pretty far-fetched, because we see things all the time that we have never imagined. But I have a little story of my own to share that may change your mind. Several years ago, I was out running just a few streets over from my house. I noticed a friend from high school’s mother standing in a random yard. I didn’t think much of it and went on my merry way.

Weeks later, I ran into that friend and mentioned seeing her mother in the yard. She asked, “Well, what did you think of my car sitting there upside down next to her?” Confused, I said, “Uh, what?!” She replied, “Yes, I had just been in an accident, and my car flipped over into that yard. We were all fine, but she came and stayed with the car until the tow truck took it away. If you saw her, you should have seen the car, because she left as soon as it was gone.”

After a long pause, I said, “Do you mean to tell me that your Chevy Surburban–one of the biggest SUVs on the road– was flipped upside down in a yard a few feet away from me, and I did not see it?” She smiled and said, “Yes, and you are not the only friend of mine with whom I have had this exact same conversation.”

The human psyche is complicated and endlessly fascinating. We rely heavily on our five senses for verification and truth, yet when an event is way outside of our comfort zone, there appear to be protective mechanisms in place to keep us from questioning our seemingly stable reality. Of course, quantum physics blows all of that out of the water, but most of us haven’t caught up to quantum mechanics. As Deepak Chopra once said, “The universe is not stranger than you think. It’s stranger than you can think.” It seems that reality is a soupy mess that gets collapsed into appearing as whatever reality we expect.

With that said, may I suggest getting crystal clear on what you want your life to be like? Collapse the atoms and molecules of your life in a way that the Taoists would refer to as “more favorably arranged.”

Amy Allen is a transformative healer and teacher of wisdom and success methods, conducting private healing sessions and teaching Lit from Within workshops for health, happiness, and positive self-esteem and body image. Whether clients struggle to love themselves and their bodies from a lack of self-care or a drive for perfection, they will experience a powerful and embodied transformation through Amy’s work, which directly addresses mind, body, and spirit.

She has been doing this work for over 15 years and has worked with hundreds of people to live healthier and happier lives through her unique blend of compassion, difficult truths, and humor. Her diverse training and scope of practice includes the world’s religions, philosophies, and healing methods. To visit her website, go to www.litfromwithin.net.