What do I mean when I say that perception is your reality? Do you really understand the importance of your perception for your life?
First of all, let us understand what perception is. According to the Cambridge dictionary perception is “a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem”.
I highlighted the words belief and opinion to point the fact that none of these two could ever be totally objective. I also highlighted the last words of the definition because we all may easily understand that things cannot always be as they seem. This means that how things seem also cannot be objective.
“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
Edgar Allan Poe
Perception is Reality
What I mean to say here is that bottom line our perception is our life and the world in which we choose to live in.
Researches have proved that our strong beliefs create our reality. This is so powerful to acknowledge. If we believe that we can make something happen it is most possible that we will make it happen. This works also the other way around. If we doubt ourselves and think that we will never make it, we probably never will.
It is a hard thing to realize that most of the limitations we came across during our life or most of those we keep coming across are mainly there because of our perception. But on the other hand, it is powerful to understand that changing our perception can help us change our lives.
“I believe I am in Hell, therefore I am.”
Arthur Rimbaud
Related: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Thankful for Your Difficulties
What Impacts Perception and Our Reality
1. Previous Experiences
It has been proven that the experiences someone had in life have a major impact on the way he/she decodes events, behaviors, and situations in life. This interpretation that happens inside our minds could be either negative or positive. Previous bad experiences may lead us in being afraid of expressing ourselves, of trying new things, of taking challenges, etc.
2. Energy and Physical Condition
Researches have shown that when our energy levels are low when we are tired or in pain we perceive the world around us in a negative way. We perceive the tasks we have to complete as harder than they are and the people as more hostile. Feeling hungry or thirsty can also affect our perception and lead us to specific choices.
3. Emotional Condition
When feeling sad or disappointed we perceive the world as an ugly place and we think low of ourselves. Our life seems hard and everything much more difficult. On the other hand, when feeling happy everything seems easier, the people are friendlier and we are more willing to help anyone in need.
4. Other Humans Presence
It seems that the presence of other people affects our perception. This presence makes us think that something is easier than what we would have thought when being alone. Going through something painful seems less hard when a loved one is by our side and socializing with others reduces our stress levels.
“When you no longer perceive the world as hostile, there is no more fear, and when there is no more fear, you think, speak and act differently.”
Eckhart Tolle
Related: Choose Joy -5 Reasons to Empower your Choice for Joy
The Perception of Ourselves – Perception is More Important than Reality
How about what we perceive of ourselves? This is also the belief or the opinion we have of our self, or what the others believe about us based on what they have seen which we also have adopted us our belief. People with low self-confidence and low self-esteem perceive themselves in a bad way and value themselves low.
Thinking low or high of ourselves is mainly based on our previous experiences. However, we all have our strengths, and being able to recognize them will help us gain self-awareness. By gaining self-awareness we can raise our self-confidence and furthermore change our perception of our self.
Our self-perception is so powerful that could lead us to conquer whatever we want or totally destroy us. It depends on what we choose to perceive ourselves like.
Related: Do you Lack of Self-Confidence? 5 Tips to Boost it
How to Alter your Perception Tο Alter your Reality
1. Be Willing to Alter your Thoughts
Your perception is your belief. Changing your thoughts means that you decide to change the beliefs you have. However, no change is ever possible without the will for change. This is the starting point and everything else will follow.
2. Be Responsible
Understanding that you are the person responsible for your life is of major importance. Responsibility will help you identify that previously taken wrong choices are not here to define your future choices. You are responsible for the path your life took but you are also responsible for what is coming up next.
3. Show Sympathy and Understanding
Sympathy and understanding should be shown to yourself. It is not an easy step to change your perception. Learning to perceive yourself and life in a certain way was a long time process so shifting it will also not happen in one day. Taught behaviors cannot be altered instantly. Understand that time is needed and feel compassion for yourself.
4. Evaluate your Thoughts
Learned behaviors and types of thinking are not easily controlled. Sometimes even though you have the will, the past self takes over. Learn to question your thoughts and their validity. It is a good idea to share thoughts with a friend or someone you trust. Thinking about something from another perspective or simply listening to the perspective of another person could be very helpful.
Conclusion on Perception is Reality
Your perception is your reality. Shifting your way of thinking means that you use your thoughts to start creating the life you want to live. Start perceiving the world as a friendly place and the world will be a friendly place. After all, you are the artist of this piece of art called life.
“You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint the paradise, then in you go.”
Nikos Kazantzakis
Resources – Relative Articles
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep32986
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301094822.htm
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/eight_reasons_to_distrust_your_own_perceptions
This was such an interesting and detailed post. This was really informative with some really great tips on how to alter and change it. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Glad you found it interesting and informative Lauren. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Fantastic post! I found this a very interesting insight into our own and other’s perception of ourselves x
I am really glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting 🙂
I like the positivity in this post.
Glad you liked it Jamie ☺️
Loved reading this, was so inspiring and informative. Thankyou for sharing x
http://Www.nadinealex.blogspot.com
Tgank you Nadine for reading and commenting 🙂
Brilliant post, thank you so much for sharing our way of perceiving life and creating the life we want by changing our thoughts positively
I am glad you could relate to this one Rayo. Thank you for commenting ❤️
This was such an insightful read – I found myself nodding along to quite a few of the points you mentioned! I definitely want to try and change my thoughts (particularly when I’m tired and/or alone) so I can have a more positive perception. Thank you so much for sharing another important post <3
I am glad you liked it. Thank you 💓
This was an interesting read Eri! Perception is really important. We are what we believe actually. How we perceive ourselves and life in general can make us better people or just make us feel worthless. Like you said, our perception could help us conquer whatever we want or totally destroy us. It depends on what we choose to perceive ourselves like. I try to have a positive perception of myself and life in general because perception really plays an important role in our lives. If someone believes/perceives that they are useless then they will be useless not because they were created to be useless but because most times our lives are manifestations of our beliefs and perception. It can be hard to have a positive perception especially during tough times but it’s worth it!
Totally with you Ruth. Our lives are manifestation of our thoughts, beliefs and perception. I am glad we agree. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Great post. I totally agree with this. Changing my thoughts is the best thing I’ve ever done, because it really is all about mindset.
It always is about the mindset….great to hear you could relate on this. Thank you for commenting 🙂
This was really interesting to read; I am a big supporter of mindset shifts and how freeing they can often be. Our perceptions of reality can sometimes not be as clear as it should be so learning more about it all is so important. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am glad you found it interesting Molly. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Really, an interesting post! enjoyed reading it
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for commenting!
That was quite an insightful post with lot of information.
Thanks
Thank you for commenting 🙂
Great post! Perception definitely matters a lot. I totally agree with the point of being responsible. It also indirectly shows us that we have responsibility and choice over or actions and thoughts which can change our reality.
I am glad you liked it Sumedha. Thank you for commenting 🙂
This is so true. Perception is all about your point of view, which is often not accurate and can lead to misrepresentation. Some really thoughtful and helpful suggestions here, Eri, thank you.
Good to know you found it helpful. Thank you for commenting Lisa!
Love this!!! I learned a few more things!!
Thabk you!
Great post. So very true. The way we think and our perception of things can impact how we live our lives massively!
Glad you liked it Jenny. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Another excellent post. We create our own reality – that’s it!
Thank you Dorothy!
Very interesting post, definitely gets you thinking and examining your own situation to see how your reality is altered. Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed reading!
I am glad you liked it Anika. Thank you for commenting 🙂
I studied international relations at university and there is a theory known as Constructivism which states that things only have meaning or power because humans have decided they do. It talks about the power of spoken word e.g. “I pronounce you man and wife.” This blog post really reminded me of that. A super interesting read.
I have studied about it constructivism too and it made total sense to me. I am happy you found it interesting. Thank you for commenting and adding your thoughts in this thread 🙂
This was a great read! Everyone’s perception of life varies so I don’t think there really is any true way late looks like because it’s altered by the way we think and act.
Glad you liked it and you could relate to it. Thank you for commenting 🙂
I definitely think altering the way you look at life is the key to happiness. This was a great read! Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it Megan. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Great positive post! Perception can make such a difference.
Thank you for reading snd commenting 🙂
I really enjoyed this article thank you.
Thank you Emma!
Very good post. I work as a PT and how people perceive their pain (in a negative or positive light) is probably the biggest indicator in whether they will have a good or bad prognosis. If you think pain is bad, it’s going to hurt and not get better. It really is that simple in most cases!
It was great to read about your experience regarding perception Paul. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Great post, really informative and very true, it really is about mindset!
It is always about the mindset Sarah. Thank you for commenting ❤️
This was an amazing post! Well researched and makes one really think about well, how they think! Well done!
Glad you liked it Laurie. Thank you for commenting!
Such an enlightening post. Very informative and eye opening. It really gets you thinking about our own perspective on things and what/how we’re all very different.
Thank you for reading and commenting Chloe!
Awesome post. Love it.
Thank you;!
Oh this was such an interesting read! Thanks so much for sharing xx
Thank you for reading and commenting Alice!
Very cool. I’m definitely on board with the mindful idea that what we perceive is more impactful than any sort of “objective” view of reality, but I had never considered all the different factors that weigh into that perception. I always kind of saw it as some kind of “default” perception, and then how you choose to perceive something. Love this idea of how your past, present, and environment play into it and all the things you can do to intentionally reshape it.
I am glad I offered you another view on the issue of perspective Sam. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Such a great post! I was nodding along the whole way. 🙂 And your advice about learning to question your perceptions is spot on!
I am glad you liked it. Thabk you for commenting 🙂
This is such a interesting post! I know myself I can be quite negative when it comes to certain things in life and after reading your post, it’s something I’m defiantly going to change. You’ve shared some great tips which I’ll for sure be taking into account. Thank you so much for sharing Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
I am glad you found it interesting and you could get something out of this Elle. Thank you for commenting ❤️
I totally agree with this. Your thought process really can determined whether or not you’re successful. I know people who are so negative, and I know they will struggle to achieve anything because it’s everyone else’s fault why they have ended up where they are. Very interesting read 🙂
Glad you found it interesting and you agree. Thank you for commenting 🙂
I feel like this is another such important topic you’ve touched on and love how you’ve laid it out. Our perceptions really do impact so many aspects of our lives. One of the most challenging things I’ve done in my life is change the negative “tapes” or thoughts that would play over in my head and give me a negative view on myself. It was a worthwhile task to take on though! And the sympathy/understanding for myself was so important in that journey so I love that you highlighted it here.
I am glad you could relate yourself to this one and you understand exactly why I mentioned everything I did. Thank you for commenting 🙂
This comes to me at just the right time! I have noticed that my outlook on past experiences and, if it is present in my life, the turmoil of now drastically changes when I am upset or tired. I get stuck in a rut of negative thinking and simply cannot find one positive thing to hold onto.
Showing sympathy and understanding as well as being willing to alter my thoughts and beliefs is a wonderful way to develop some fluidity. Thank you so much for sharing!
I am glad I could offer you an understanding of how our perspective can be impacted and I helped you a bit in finding ways to alter it when needed. Thank you for commenting ❤️
This is an eye-opener! Indeed, what you believe impacts your behavior and action. This is why it’s important to be aware of who you associate with. Thanks for sharing!
https://lifebeginsattwenty.com/
I am glad you liked it Monique. Thank you for commenting 🙂
This is an interesting article. Indeed, the perceptions makes certain things easier to do and certain things difficult. The conceived perceptions can have negative impact on a person. Altering the perception can be lifechanging for some people.
Exactly! Thank you so kuch for reading and commenting!
Reading this post was a wonderful reminder for me to really remember that we create our own reality 😳 Thanks for this!