Reality of Perception

Sarah E. Blair
Nov 16, 2017
4 min read

You may have heard that “Perception is Reality”

But have you been told the REALITY of Perception?

The definition of perception is: the ability to become aware of something through the senses.

To have perception we must use our bodily senses. There are five common senses that the human body uses. Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste and Touch. These senses connect to our central nervous system and into our brain. They help us determine the world and all that is in it. Our senses tell us when there is danger and when there is pleasure. Sometimes we use these senses individually. Often, we use our senses in combination with each other without even knowing we are.

That strange gut feeling you get, that you cannot explain… That is you trying to sort out what your senses are telling you. Your senses are what form your instincts. We have learned to trust them. If you smell something burning, are you going to ignore the smell? If you hear an alarm going off are you going to turn in its direction? We can feel when something is dangerously too hot or cold. We need our senses, without them we cannot navigate the world around us. Even if we lose the ability to use one sense another will amplify to make up for the lack there of. As an example, someone who is blind, their hearing will double as their eyes and ears.

"The world exists as you perceive it. It is not what you see... but how you see it. It is not what you hear.. but how you hear it. It is not what you feel... but how you feel it." ~Rumi

We use our senses for every encounter. Every time our paths cross with someone or something we are using our senses. We use them to determine who we want relationships with and what type of relationship we want. We even use these senses to determine how we feel about complete strangers walking past us on the street.

A young woman walking to her car after a long night at work. She suddenly gets this whiff of alcohol and hears a man yelling. She turns towards the yells and sees this large man wearing a baggy hooded sweat shirt and dirty baggy pants. The man starts running towards her in a frantic manner. The woman turns back around and starts running as fast as she can in fear. Her heart racing. The smell of alcohol getting stronger. The screams from the man behind her louder. She can now feel the ground under her start to shake as he is gaining speed on her. She arrives at her car frantically shaking. She drops her keys trying to unlock the door. She bends to pick up the keys. The smell of alcohol and sweat is so potent she is starting to taste vomit in her mouth. The woman stands up. The crazed man practically runs into her as he tries to stop his momentum. He apologizes to the woman and says to her “Miss, you dropped your wallet back there. I thought you might need it. I am sorry I scared you.” The woman is so stunned by the man. She takes a breath of relief. Looks around and realizes that the man in front of her is not a threat. She realizes that although his clothes are baggy and warn, he was wearing a work uniform with a sweat shirt over it. She looks around to find where the smell of alcohol is coming from and sees a bar. The taste of vomit was just out of sheer fear. She in that moment realizes that the perception of this man was that he was a crazed, homeless, smelly, potential killer. When in all actuality he was a blue collared, honest and kind man.

Had it not been late at night. Had the man not been dressed in this manner. Had he not been yelling. Perhaps she would have seen him in a different light and not been scared half to death.

Our senses are important. Just as important as how we project ourselves onto the world.

Two people can look at the same exact image and see two completely different things. It is all in a matter of how each one perceives it.

Perception is a professional illusionist. It only shows you what it wants you to see. There is always something behind the curtain.

It is our job to show the world how we want it to see us. If we walk this earth frowning all

the time, wearing baggy dirty clothes. Smelling like we haven’t taken a shower in weeks. Speaking with profanity in harsh tones. How is the world going to see us? It doesn’t matter how rich or poor. Smart or dumb; if we project ourselves poorly then we will be perceived for who we are NOT rather than who we are.

It is so important to be conscious of our actions and take effort in investing in ourselves. We must treat ourselves with love and respect so that it is perceived that we should be treated with the love and respect we deserve.

The golden rule is Treat others the way you want to be treated.

We need to start following that rule not just for others but for ourselves. Treat yourself the way you want to be treated. Projected onto this world, all the good inside of you. Project positivity not negativity. When you project positive vibes about yourself you will be perceived in a new light. When you are perceived as something you are not, you start to see yourself in the wrong light.

Seeing is believing. Once you start seeing yourself incorrectly, you start believing that is who you are and how things should be. Everything you do effects how you and the rest of the world perceives you. Starting from the way you dress, walk, talk, the choices you make,

to the company that you keep.