Powerful Perceptions

Have you ever heard “Perception is Reality?” What do you think that means? Is it one of those things your parents say to scare you like: if you keep frowning your face will get stuck like that or if you drink that, it will put hair on your chest. I guess that one’s not scary for everyone.

See, what people perceive is usually what they believe, and this is based on what they hear, see and think. It works both ways. Your perception is your reality and the way you present yourself, say and do, becomes someone else’s reality.

How do you want to be perceived? Maybe you’ve heard this one: “Dress for the job you want not the one you have”. What do you suppose that means? You are creating a perception of a more successful and talented person because you want someone to have a different opinion of you. This can be more than just putting your best foot forward,  sometimes, this desire to be perceived differently can go too far. To their own detriment, people are buying bigger houses, faster cars, plastic surgery, and expensive wardrobes. It easy to see the kind of reality they are trying to personify.

Has your own perception been distorted? See if this sounds familiar. You have an idea in your mind, something you believe to be true. You then give more focus to evidence that helps support your idea vs contrary evidence. A great example of this is in politics. Do you believe in every case presented or are you just sticking to your alignment?

How about the way you perceive a type of person or group of people? People tend to believe that when people are similar in one way, they are likely to be similar in other ways and this is often not the case. Let’s say you have a negative experience with a certain type of person, gender, race, or status. Do you react with a preconceived bias when you are faced with a similar situation?

Our expectations and perceptions of optimism can be altered with a single word like "yes." On the flip-side, we all know the power of “no” to instantly take the wind out of your sails and make you feel negative. The declarative word “yes” is like an implicit green light that implies "go." On the other hand, “no” is an implicit red light that implies "stop."

One of the choices you have when faced with a problem is to change your perception of the problem. People sometimes resist altering their perceptions, believing they are right in what they see, hear, and remember. The truth is that your perceptions are often inaccurate, particularly in emotionally charged situations.

CHALLENGE: To challenge your perception, be open to differing opinions and ideas. Ask yourself “is this what I think, or is this what I know to be true”. Be aware of how the presentation of yourself, your ideas, and your wants could also be skewed. Be bold and clear to personify your desires.

I know YOU can do it!

Musical Feature: Curtis Battrell found on iTunes and SoundCloud