There’s an old story about two boys whose father was an alcoholic. They grew into young men. One son became an alcoholic. “What choice do I have?” he said. “My father is an alcoholic.”
The other son never touched a drop of alcohol. “How could I?” he said. “Look what it did to my father.”
From this simple story, we can see how perception is subjective. Two people sharing the same experience can perceive it very differently, and thus it shapes their lives quite differently. The son who succumbed to alcoholism was resigned to his fate because he believed that his father’s behaviour predetermined his own. This belief created a narrow perception of an already decided destiny. Had he been taught the power of choosing the available information that shaped his beliefs, so he could learn how to consciously choose his perception, his life could have unfolded very differently.
This exemplifies the need to understand the multiple perceptions available in any given situation and the importance of actively choosing one’s perspective rather than passively trusting the narratives imposed by external influences. This tale highlights how perception plays an integral role in shaping individual destinies and how important it is to consciously form different perspectives in any given situation.
Interpretation of perception shapes realities
But what is perception, and how much agency do we have in choosing our perception through conscious awareness?
Perception is the intricate cognitive process through which we interpret and make sense of the world, and it serves as the foundation of our understanding. From the moment we open our eyes to the world, our brains embark on a continuous dance with sensory stimuli, transforming raw data into meaningful experiences that shape our reality.
Our five primary senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell—act as gateways that allow external stimuli to enter our consciousness. The eyes capture the light, the ears discern the sound waves, and the skin senses pressure and temperature. All this sensory information enters our brains as raw information which is then processed and woven into this multifaceted reality we experience.
Notably, perception is inherently subjective. Two people who are exposed to the exact same experience may perceive it very differently due to their unique differences, their experiences from the past, and cultural influences. This highlights how subjectivity plays a significant role in how we interpret our realities. How we perceive our world, including what we hear, see or feel, is not an objective reflection of the external world. Rather, it is a constructed version of the world that is influenced by our unique cognitive filters.
The journey of building a perception is a fascinating one, particularly during early childhood. As infants explore their surroundings, sensory processing in the brain undergoes significant development. With time, the brain refines its ability to better organize and interpret sensory inputs, thus contributing to the maturation of perception. This developmental process shapes our perception and our capacity to navigate and understand the world around us.
Another key player in perception shaping is attention. Our brains organize, filter and prioritize information based on what we pay attention to, thus allowing us to navigate a world that is filled with stimuli by zoning in on what is necessary while ignoring the rest. The interplay between our perception and attention significantly influences our cognitive experience and decision-making, showcasing the dynamic nature of our interaction with the environment.
Conscious awareness
Perception, while remarkable in its ability to interpret and make sense of the world, is inherently susceptible to biases and errors. One way to show this is by looking at the way that optical illusions play with our visual perception, as this discloses how our brains tend to make assumptions and fill in the gaps.
Moreover, our perceptual biases, which are shaped by our expectations and beliefs, can lead us to misinterpret information and distort our reality. These biases influence how we interpret new information, which often leads to the reinforcement of existing beliefs and prevents us from seeing things objectively. For instance, confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence, which can lead us to overlook other possibilities or viewpoints and limit our understanding of complicated issues.
Another challenge comes from our automated reactions based on perception. When exposed to a stimulus, our brains often stimulate instinctive responses based on our past learned behaviours and experiences. These reactions can be useful in certain situations, like when we’re keeping away from danger, but in other situations, they can lead to unnecessary conflict or impulsive decisions. For example, if someone perceives a friend’s criticism as a personal attack, they may react to it defensively without considering other angles of the situation such as the context or intention behind the feedback.
Recognizing and accepting the impact of these distortions on our perception is the first step toward conscious awareness. By acknowledging the limitations of our cognitive processes and how they are influenced by our beliefs and biases, we can begin to take control of our perception and actively select how we interpret and respond to different situations. Instead of reacting impulsively, we can pause, reflect and consciously decide our responses.
Cognitive flexibility is key
Ultimately, the ability to consciously choose our responses, rather than being tied down to automated reactions, empowers us to navigate life with greater clarity and resilience. Cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt and switch between different perspectives, emerges as a key component of conscious perception. This skill allows us to transcend our fixed outlook and embrace a more dynamic understanding of reality.
By maintaining a delicate balance and learning to be open to different perspectives, we can overcome the limitations of our cognitive processes and shape our realities in attunement with our values and aspirations.
Reframing negative thoughts and practicing gratitude are powerful tools that highlight the potential for intentional perception management.
Philosophers and psychologists have long explored the malleability of perception and its profound influence on the construction of our reality. Many studies have shown the impact of practices like mindfulness and cognitive restructuring techniques that enable individuals to take control of their perception. By staying present in the moment and by observing the ongoing thoughts and reactions in any particular situation without judgment, we can become more attuned to how perception influences our behaviour.
Challenging our beliefs and actively figuring out different perspectives can help prevent the influence of our biases and broaden our understanding of reality. Moreover, reframing negative thoughts and practicing gratitude are powerful tools that highlight the potential for intentional perception management. These practices contribute not only to a more positive outlook but also to improved mental well-being.
Consciously shaping our perceptions can cultivate crucial life skills such as resilience, optimism and the agency to actively choose our perceptions of different opportunities and challenges that life poses. This intentional approach to managing perception can contribute to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Beyond the individual, collective conscious awareness and intentional perception management can contribute to positive societal changes. From fostering empathy to promoting constructive dialogue, a society that’s aware of its perceptual dynamics can navigate challenges more effectively. This collective awareness lays the groundwork for a harmonious and understanding world.
With our collective awareness, we can empower ourselves and our societies to forge a reality that’s aligned with our conscious choices and values—a reality characterized by empathy, understanding and collective well-being.
«LECTURE CONNEXE» CONSCIOUSNESS: A clarity of being»
image 1 : Gerd Altmann; image 2 : Gerd Altmann; image 3 : Gerd Altmann; image 4: Kaffeesüchtig
