What we perceive defines what we believe and similarly, what we believe determines what we take to be true. This is probably the reason why two different people can have different interpretations of the same event. Both of them have given different meanings to that same event based on their beliefs and emotions. So if we change the way we look at situations, experiences, and people; we may find that our perception about them changes and so also its reality.
Perception acts as a lens through which we view reality. They influence how we view, process, interpret, understand, remember, and act on circumstances around us. We all go through life with our senses constantly evaluating and interpreting our experience.
Throughout history and even now, people have used prayer, meditation, contemplation, concentration, and other mental faculties to change perceptions and create new realities. Governments world wide employ Think-tanks, innovators, and researchers to break through the limitations of current perceptions and create new realities. There’s a common theme which goes thus, “As a man thinketh, so is he;”
Henry Ford said, “If you think you can, or think you can’t, either way you’re right.”
It’s typical for us to assume that whatever we perceive is the objective truth. Since we have seen it with our eyes and heard them with our ears, it must be true. However, life is a lot more complex than that, there isn’t one permanent reality. Our individual sense of reality is usually shaped by our perceptions and what this means is that it will be different from that of someone else with a different sense of reality. Don’t know if all of this makes sense?
Take for instance an “irritating” co-worker who can’t seem to get along with anyone. This person probably wants to fit in and be accepted, but doesn’t know how to take those important first steps and do something different for people to see them differently . If you recognize this and love those same people, you might be amazed to find true treasures hidden within those same people where you once thought there were only worthless stones.
You can find friends in the exact place you found enemies yesterday, just with a simple change in the way you perceive these people in your experience.
Every Person’s Sensors Are Unique
Let’s start at a fundamental level. We all have different DNA. DNA is what makes our body tick and, since we’re not clones, each human genome is unique in its own special way. Our bodies contain about 20,000–25,000 genes so it should not surprise you that your genetic code may influence more than just your hair texture and eye color.
DNA is what makes our immune system possible, it also partially determines our risk of being vitamin deficient or intolerant. Some genes even influence how your body responds to medication, etc. So pardon me if I see, hear, or feel things differently from you; even from a physiological point of view.
Every Person’s Foundational Experiences Are Unique
We know that our early experiences likely affect all of us to a certain extent, and we know that due to variations in emotional makeup, some people are more sensitive than others.
The way we view ourselves and our world, and our past experiences and observations of others help to create both our healthy and unhealthy beliefs and behavior and most of these learning experiences start occurring from childhood.
Perception Works Both Ways
Humanist psychologist, Carl Rogers believed that there were three different parts of self-concept:
Self-image: Self-image for each person is a blend of different attributes including our physical characteristics, social personas and personality types. Our self-image may not necessarily be the reality, it’s just our perception of ourselves irrespective of what others see or think. Some people might hold a positive opinion of themselves which others may not see or may consider as flaws or weaknesses.
Self-esteem: on the other hand talks about how much we value ourselves. There are different factors that shape our self-esteem, like how we compare ourselves to others or how people act or respond towards us. Positive self-esteem comes when people respond positively towards us and when we compare ourselves to other people and conclude that we don’t match-up, this can have a negative effect on our self-esteem.
Ideal self: talks about how perception of who we think we ought to be, our wish of who we hope to become. Most times these two don’t agree, the way we see ourselves currently and what we wish to be.
Your perception is your reality. The more we can be fully aware of this fact and come to understand and accept it as it is, the better version of ourselves we can become, a more authentic and fulfilling version of ourselves.
- By creating new perceptions, we can actually create new realities.
- If you don’t like your experience, change your belief about it.
- To change your world, change your perception, they eventually become your reality.
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