Perception is Everything

By December 23, 2015



Perception is Everything

People often ask me what I mean when I say that Perception is Everything. 

There are so many ways of interpreting that statement, which is exactly the point. The way we perceive something not only reveals who we are as a person, but the way we view a certain situation, event, or idea ultimately defines what we do with it and how we allow it to change our lives.

So when people ask me what that means to me, I usually reply by asking them

 'what do you think it means?'

What it comes down to is that at the root of it, we as humans are more alike than we realize, but at the same time also vastly unique. Our experiences build us, our relationships build us, and we ourselves determine who we want to become. Everyone starts at the exact same position and as we live we accumulate all these extra things that make us unique. No one in the world will have had the exact same combination of experiences you have had and those experiences shape our perception and in doing so the way we deal with this world.

One thing I've realized is that often times the way I react to someone else's situation or event says more about me than it says about their predicament. Our reaction is one of the most genuine exhibitions of ourselves, the way we think and the way we view the world. We react in the way that is most familiar to us thinking that what is normal to us is normal to others as well. 

But ultimately, why do I say that perception is everything? 

Because the same situation can be dealt with in two completely different ways depending on the way the person affected perceives it. A very basic example is failure; something we have all experienced whether we care to admit it or not. Some will see failure as a roadblock that prevents us from achieving our goals, choosing to allow it to define ourselves. Others will see failure as a stepping stone to success, and an opportunity to learn. Even though the situation itself is the same, the way one chooses to appreciate it can take two people down completely different paths. 

So when I say that Perception is Everything, it is a reminder to myself that everything in life can go multiple ways depending on how I handle and react to it. To be careful in the way I perceive things because that is what defines me. 

My past, my present and my future.

naomi

6.16.14

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2 Lovely Replies

  1. Naomi, this was such a wonderful read. Perception is something I like to be conscious of as well. It's been a tough year for me, and in my perception, maybe it hasn't been, but it has definitely been a learning experience. Here's to the New Year and a positive perspective on 2016! <3

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    1. Anna!

      So lovely to hear from you again. I've been waiting for a new post on your end and missing your blog entries! Wishing you a Happy New Year and may great things come your way! :)

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