In my efforts to become better and to become more wise, I've had to do a few reality checks. I was never taught how to do a reality check, except for a few passionate comments in passing. So, if I cannot find a good source to learn how to do it, I'll just think about it.

A reality check is really a test against reality. It's almost the same as doing a sanity test, to make sure what you think is really supported by reality in some way. Specifically, my own perceptions are tested against reality to see if I get the results I've intended. This very much reminded me of the scientific method.

So my version of a reality check is a modified scientific method.

1. Define or specify the perception.

2. Gather information about the perception.

3. Hypothesize about how the perception will interact with reality.

4. Perform an experiment and gather data.

5. Analyze the data.

6. Interpret the data and modify hypothesis if necessary.

7. Write down the results.

8. Ask another to reproduce your results or do it again yourself.

This is pretty much the best way to do a reality check that I can think of. We humans have the gift of imagination, but it sometimes needs to touch the ground once in a while.