Changing Your Perception – How Others See The World

 

Today I want to chat with you about how you are seeing this world and the power of your perception.

The other day I shared on my INSPIRING LIFE SCHOOL podcast an interesting update about myself. More specifically I said how winter had come early to Sydney this year and there I was sitting and recording for you this episode while all rugged up.

Only later did I realise how ridiculous that sounded as what I considered to be could be a cooler morning – approximately 16 degrees celsius or 61 degrees Fahrenheit ended up being a 22 degree day for us here in Sydney or 72 degrees Fahrenheit for those who used the Fahrenheit measure and my gosh it reminded me relative everything is in this world.

For someone living in a cooler nation even our low of 16 degrees could be considered to be beautiful and warm and there I was rugged up in a warm winter coat and fluffy socks.

So yes I’m admitting that my own spoiled circumstances here in Sydney – where the weather is actually always beautiful for a greater part of the year – had warped my sense of what I consider to be cold and how other people might not agree with me.

 

But everything really comes down to perception right?

 

As Friedrich Nietzsche once so wisely said: all things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not the truth. Then there is Marcus Aurelius who said “everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” And finally there’s this quote from Carl Jung who said: “it all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves.”

Now I’ve spoken alot about how your thoughts determine your feelings which in turn impact your actions and results and I teach in depth exactly how to implement these teachings to radically change the results in your life inside my MANAGING YOUR MIND COURSE.

So I don’t want to approach this topic of perception from that angle today. Instead I want to press upon you that this concept or revelation if this is something you havent considered before is applicable not just to you but everyone else in the world.

Oftentimes we look around at our family and friends and think: like are they actually blind? Like how are they not seeing exactly what I’m seeing? Isn’t it obvious? What is wrong with these people?

If you have ever thought this, don’t worry, you aren’t alone, this is totally normal because we sometimes lack the perspective to truly grasp that our perception of things depend on our own personal experiences and other people have their own personal experiences and a different lens that they are filtering all the information through.

 

CHANGING YOUR PERCEPTION

 

So if someone from Antartica came to visit Sydney on the day that I was complaining about the cold weather they would look at me and think: “is this woman crazy? What is she going on about?

The sun is still shining, there’s no wind to speak of, and instead of walking around in a coat they would most likely be walking around in a t-shirt and shorts or dress and they would be relishing this heat in the most appreciative way ever.

It always comes down to your perception and what you think is right or true can often be wrong and untrue to others in this world.

 

 

If you’re insisting but NO I HAVE PROOF TO BACK ME UP. I HAVE EVIDENCE, LOOK I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET.

 

Guess what? Someone else can go ahead and find evidence to support their own theory on the internet and we will always find what we’re looking for and ignore the rest.

 

 

CHANGING YOUR PERCEPTION

 

 

So this article is simply about opening your eyes to the fact that we all really do see this world through a different lens from other people in this world and that our lens isn’t right or wrong…it just is.

Now you might find that you are attracted to people who have a similar perspective to you which in some ways confirms this idea to you that your stance might be right because you are spending time with people who agree and think like you.

You might find this evident in your religious and political views, the way you raise and educate your children, the way you fuel your body and what you choose to spend your time on.

But this is because like attracts like and also relates back to confirmation bias which is people’s tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with their existing beliefs.

 

So just be open to this idea that people have a different lens from you…you aren’t right and they aren’t wrong, even if you could preach to the high heavens that your way is the best way.

 

Let’s just be open to accepting that other people might at the same time think their way is the best way and agree to disagree here.

Remember everyone in this world grew up in a different home from you, with different parents and even those who grew up in the same home as you – such as your siblings – still had different experiences from you.

Yes we grew up in the same home. Yes we have the same parents. But our memories from the past are always different. This is because the lens through which we view life is as different as our individual & unique personalities.

 

 

Now in case you’ve ever wondered how in the world 2 parents can raise kids with such different personalities, the reason is this:

 

The mom and dad a first born child experiences is completely different from the one the later children experience. First time parents worry more, they find it harder to let go of the reins. With time, they get older & wiser and parent in a slightly different way.

 

CHANGING YOUR PERCEPTION

 

This is normal, with time we all change and grow. Add to this the unique personality of each child & this changes the way each parent interacts with each of their kids.

That is, the way your mom and dad interact with you will be slightly different from the way they interact with your siblings (intentional or not).

Add to this mix, your different experiences outside of the home, different peer groups, different teachers and friends and interests and this helps further mold our different personalities as we grow older.

This is why you should never compare your kids. They are different because they are SUPPOSED to be different. Yes they may live in the same home and yes they may have the same parents but their experience of this home will be different from yours and their siblings and their experience of YOU as their parent will be different too.

 

Now I know I’ve gone off on a tangent here so let’s bring this back to the topic at hand which is that there are close to 8 billion different lenses walking around in this world right now and everyone thinks their lens is true and right and best for them.

 

And that is their prerogative. It isn’t our job to preach and try to convince others that they are wrong and they are right. Let’s just show some compassion and acceptance. I can promise you that I truly believe that it’s okay if you think differently from me.

In fact, I would be totally shocked if you don’t because you are an individual with different thoughts and different experiences so why wouldn’t you also see life through a different lens too?

Now that’s not to say we have to love other people’s way of approaching life. You can love and hate anything you want. You can strongly disagree with some opinions and strongly embrace others.

 

 

 

CHANGING YOUR PERCEPTION

 

But it isn’t our job to educate the world on the greatness of living life according to > and you can insert your own name here if you like <.

 

Because maybe it isn’t great for others. Maybe people want to go to work rather than stay home and take care of their kids. Maybe they want to be polygamous instead of monogamous. Maybe they want to homeschool rather than send their kids off to a Catholic school like I did.

Maybe they want to travel the world and never get married and never have kids and that defines a happy life for them. Good on them! Their life, their choices…and we get to focus on our life and our choices.

 

Now obviously there are laws in place to make sure that people aren’t hurting others with their choices.

 

I’m not advocating sitting back and watching others intentionally hurt you and the people you love. As humans we have the power to set clear boundaries in our life, we get to decide who gets to stay inside our inner circle, our little bubble of life and who doesn’t.

 

CHANGING YOUR PERCEPTION

 

Of course it’s important for you to intentionally keep your energy protected and surround yourself with things and people and structures that help you create a life for yourself that makes your soul feel at peace.

But everyone else has the right to do the same for themselves too because at our very core, even though we all walk around this planet viewing the world through a different lens, humans just want to be seen, appreciated and understood.

And how can you do this with more compassion and ease? Just know that they have a different lens from you. You are right and they are wrong…we are all just different.

As always, much love from me and take care.

Much love,

Frances Vidakovic 

 

 

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