Changing my perceptions to change my reality
Couple of years of back, I had a manager who used to
repeatedly tell my colleagues and I that, “Perception is reality.” He used to
say it so often that it has become engraved in my mind. As I look back at that
statement I believe there was some wisdom in that. However, if we truly
understand this to its core, then we will fully comprehend its implications to love
and relationships.
We all interact and see others with a lens that is defined
by them. They try to understand other
people using the same lens or based on their “perception” about them. We behave, communicate, and express our
feelings to others, based on our perceptions.
This perception becomes our reality of our life, even if it is faulty
one. Many times we fail to correct that faulty view and continue to live life
with the broken view of our perceptions. This forces us to perceive others, the way
they are NOT. We expect them to behave the
way we would expect them to respond. When others do what is natural for them we get
offended, we speak bad things about them, and then grumble. We fail to correct ourselves and fail to
perceive that they did what was natural for them to do. If we are to correct
our perception, then this faulty reality would no longer exist. However, I am
not referring to or including corrupt, arrogant, wicked or immoral behavior. For
such, God’s wrath will follow, we are to be still in God and allow Him to take
suitable action in due time.
Typically, in counseling sessions the key advice given to
all attendees is that we cannot change others, but we can only change
ourselves. Changing others with our expectations or desires is impossible. We
may be able to force others to change, but that will be only for a short period
of time. Confronting ourselves is the only thing we have control over and it is
the only thing that we can do, which would result in improving any of our relationships
with friends, family, co-workers, etc..
Romans 12:2 tell
us that "Do not conform any longer
to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will.”
Paul is reminding us that we are no longer to conform to the
ways we used to follow. If today our perception is faulty about others and that
we are not able to deal with such people then it may be time for us to have a
“transformed” mind or in other words a transformed perception. Only then will
we begin to see and behave with others in a changed manner. Our changed perception will become obvious for
others through our actions. This will result in a loving relationship, where
the outcome is peace and reconciliation. That is when the true love of Christ
will emanate from our life into this world and we will begin to see a new reality
around our lives.
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