Symbols vs. Reality

The Challenge: Do not read the words, instead say the color of each word. Fast.

Red Green Yellow Blue Purple Pink Brown Black Orange Yellow Blue Orange Gray Pink Purple Blue Yellow Green Pink Orange

If you are like most people, this was not an easy task. That is because our brains are trained to see things and then draw an instantanious conclusion.

But what is more real here, the written word for a color, which is really just a symbolic representation of the color, or the color itself? And yet, we automatically process the symbol, equating it with the real thing and do not even notice what is actually real.

For myself, I know that I often have an idea about a how a situation, person, or thing is. I wonder how often I see my own idea and completely miss what is actually there.

200 Interesting Questions to Ask Children

Fun Comma Practice