Perceptions

Our world is determined by our perception.

In another post, in another blog, I wrote that a person suffering from depression believes his negative state of mind to be ‘Reality’ based on his negative perceptions.  This is because everything we see is filtered through the lens of our perceptions.

Merriam - Webster defines ‘perception’ thus:

• 1 a: a result of perceiving : observation b: a mental image : concept
• 2obsolete : consciousness
• 3 a: awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation <color perception> b: physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience
• 4 a: quick, acute, and intuitive cognition : appreciation b: a capacity for comprehension

Nowhere in this description do you find the phrase: ‘absolute reality’.  Yet we commonly accept our observations to be reality.  We observe, construct a concept based on our  incomplete data, form an assumption, and call it reality!  When this observation is made a second time with the same conclusions, (which is likely, seeing it now has a ‘history’ in our consciousness), it is well on it’s way to becoming a ‘core belief’.

I imagine that it’s the “quick, intuitve, cognition” that gets us in trouble most of the time.  ‘Snap’ judgements, without thinking things through, will only further separate us from reality.  How many times have we found ourselves in an argument, only to discover we misunderstood the person we are arguing with?

We have a built in tendacy to think everyone percieves things the same way we do!  For instance, I used to answer direct questions very literally.  My first wife was very Indirect.  She would ask: “Do you want to take out the trash?” (meaning, of course, ”please take out the trash.”)  Unfortunately, my mind percieved the question literally, which was: “do you want to take out the trash?”  My answer would always be No!  You can imagine where that led us!

When I finally realized what was going on, I explained it only to hear: “Oh you know what I mean!”  Actually I hadn’t.  I had been trying to figure out why anyone would want to take out the trash!

That automatic assumption that everyone percieves reality the same as ourself, just reinforces our belief that what we see is reality.  Therefore we begin, deep down, to resent those who attempt to ‘persuade us’ differently.

• Your perceptions are just an impression of reality, not reality itself.
• You can choose how you wish to percieve any experience.
• Because every part and particle of the Universe (ie. ‘reality) is in constant motion, the reality of what we perceive changes moment by moment.

I have chosen to include this material as an introduction to this blog in order to set the tone a little bit.