Real Mind Tricks

"This sentence is a lie."(135) Ok, lets slow down here a little. Chapters O, P, and Q brings about the real definition of mind blown. We started seeing contradictions, doubt and thinking. This statement includes all three of them. Shields introduces paradoxes with this opening sentence. If it is stating that the sentence is a lie, then wouldn't it not be not not a lie? Now I'm messing with your head. Paradoxes relate to the topic of reality. Is the nature of reality paradoxical? Firstly, my definition of reality is what I feel and experience around me. Most importantly, it's my version of a story.  

“Something can be true and untrue at the same time” (135) Here we go. Something can be true for someone while it can be untrue for someone else. The topic of religion revolves around this. What Shields is trying to say with this is that truth is only true according to that someone who created it. 

"The real story isn't the official story; the real story is my version (wrong, too, but I'm aware that it's wrong) of the official story." (139) Again, each one has their own version of what is real. Something like history is written by the victor. The victor tells his part of the story without taking into account the looser. There is no way in telling what is actually true. This doen't necessarily needs to be written in history books. An argument between friends or colleagues can end the same way. Each one has their own version of the story and only they know what is actually true. Many times both stories contradict each other. Therefore reality can be paradoxical. To avoid any further headaches, I'll continue living my version of reality.