Perception

Perception is important and dangerous altogether.

Humans very commonly judge a book by its cover. Sight is most used of all senses and each time we see something, we believe it is true. While it is true at that moment, it may not be so before and after that very moment itself. When two people fight, the winner seems to be cruel while the loser gets pity from everyone. However, we do not know head or tail of the whole story. The winner could have been the good guy provoked to the point he breaks. The loser could have been pretending in order to get attention or help. How often do we arrive early for the pre-fight and stay till the end for the post-fight?

Most of the time, we will listen to the people around us talking about other people or issues, especially those that concern us. We may be skeptical at the beginning. Somehow, when more and more people are talking about the same thing, rumours turn into reality. It is believed that a lie can become the truth when it is repeated more than a thousand times. A rumour is the most dangerous silent killer. It can kill respect. It can kill trust. It can kill confidence. It can kill relationships. Worst off, it can also take a life. Before we contribute to this sin, it would be better off to verify how much truth there is to a statement.

While we are aware that what we see could only be partial of the story and what we hear could be a total hoax, whatever we do is entirely up to us. We know there are hotlines to report home violence, will we take the liberty to pick up the phone and dial that number if we become aware of one such cases? We know that Mother Nature is crying in pain, will we step up and step out to fend for her and to protect her at all costs? We know that wild or stray animals do not like to come into contact with humans unless they have been forced to do so, will we leave a crop out there for them to feed their families?

Becoming aware of something is entirely different from really putting efforts to change for the better. We are aware of many things around us, what have we done to improve the situation?

We have our own freedom to interpret things our own way. Some say we should all do good but the meaning of good is understood differently by everyone. This brings us to the most sensitive issue that not many would dare to touch, religion. We each believe teachings of our own religion is the best. We selectively believe the people who spread the teachings and seldom question their interpretation because we have the perception that they are the devotees of the almighty. We should ask our inner senses. We should ask if whatever the person is telling us to do is really the religion itself. Or, if there is a slight chance that the person may have other agenda. Nobody can force us into doing something we are not willing to.

We should believe our own interpretation, and not blindly follow the insight of others.

We are born with a special gift. One that we have forgotten because of distractions. If we look back at our younger years, what is the major change from who we were to who we are now? We used to be the child of many thoughts. We imagined everything impossible and we strongly think that we are right. Children have the purest thoughts. As adults, we are consistently worried that the child might be cheated to take the wrong path. Perhaps we have a pure heart to help them but if we are to be overprotective all the time, will the child ever grow to learn the ups and downs of life itself?

Put ourselves in our children’s shoes. How well will we fair if we had us as our parents? Being protective is the norm. Letting our children choose their own path while teaching them moral is really what parents around the world should be doing. Sometimes we learn a hundred lessons in one failure, better than any classroom can ever teach. Never cushion them when they fall, only then they will learn to heal and get up as a renewed person.

Being positive is great. Having positive perception and approach is priceless.

 

If you can change your perception, you can change your emotion and this can lead to new ideas.

Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono (Edward de Bono), Maltese psychologist and author who originated the term lateral thinking in Six Thinking Hats, 1933-present