BIAS: The Power of Personal Perceptions

BIAS: The Perhaps Unseen Persuasions of Your Personal Perceptions

Have you ever found yourself in a debate or argument with a close friend regarding a recent situation, and you are listening to them describe what they recall had happened, and you feel like you must have experienced some alternate reality in some parallel dimension somewhere? Because the memories you have of the events that took place just do not line up with what your friend is telling you? Not only is it frustrating, because it makes it difficult to find a common ground, but it makes you question not only your friend’s sanity for a moment, but also your own. And then you reach a point where you are at a loss and can only ponder…,”How the hell is this even possible?”

After this happening to me more times than I can count in my life, I think I’ve finally figured it out. Ok, with a little help from the various Dr. Bruce Lipton lectures I’ve watched as well LOL. The secret lies, not so obviously, in our perceptions. And since our perceptions are so very personal, built on so many different foundations and pulling from many different variables; perceptions allow us to explore such vast distances when two people are experiencing the exact same moments in time.

An example would be a fireworks show. Someone might truly enjoy it because it reminds them of being a kid, while another person might have been injured in the military so the noise and lights are quite unpleasant reminders. Past experiences greatly work to shape our present perceptions of the world around us and our past also comes out in our daily conversations, whether we are consciously aware of that fact or not. ALL of our past experiences in fact have molded each and every one of us into the person we are in this very moment. This is why if you have ANY regrets from your past, it is in your best interest to let them go and change your perception around those things from your past which you are feelings regret.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change”. – Dr. Wayne Dyer

Learn to look at your past with appreciation; even those things which were difficult for you…in fact, ESPECIALLY those things. For it is our hardest, most trying moments in life which allow us to shine the brightest. Think of it as the same process that turns coal into diamonds or sand into pearls…it’s the agitation and the pressure, no? This is how we learn and grow. And as pressing as it can be to adjust our lens, to be able to look with gratitude at those times in our lives in which we had to be our strongest, if you can, the rewards are great!

Think of appreciation and gratitude as the vibration you tune into and resonate with if you wish to keep an open connection to more things in your life to be appreciative of and grateful for. Sounds good to me, how about you? J

Perceptions can also come from the expectations we either knowingly or unknowingly place on others or onto relationships we have with others. When we believe that A is true, when in fact B is true, we might get weird looks from our friend if we are saying otherwise. But what if because of an expectation we had, it caused us to perceive something in a skewed way that allowed us to let A get by the “truth filter” in our brain?

This is why it’s always best to go into a conversation with an open mind, without expectation or attachment to the outcome, and to truly listen to respond, not simply waiting to talking. There’s a huge difference there and it can make or break your deep, personal conversations.

So, where does all this personal bias even come from that forms our perceptions? Well, it literally starts the day you are born. Consider yourself a sponge of your environment up until the age of 7 years old. Until age 7, your mind is most susceptible to being imprinted upon as it’s your mind’s way of truly learning about the world around you to survive. But this can have its disadvantages as we receive unconscious and unfortunately sometimes consciously negative imprints from our parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. We are bombarded with other people’s opinions; opinions about other people, about themselves, about the world, and most importantly, about us. We take in what is said about and to us and this works to shape our self-confidence and self-esteem. If we do not develop a good sense of self-worth, we may struggle in areas of communication and connecting with others in close personal relationships.

We are all a work in progress. So just keep that in mind and be kind to yourself and to others. And remember that happiness is a journey…not a destination. Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the view once in a while. We can ALL perceive the beauty in life’s most precious moments…

This article is dedicated to the life of Dr. Wayne W. Dyer <3

Tamara Rant is a Co-Editor/Writer for CLN as well as a Licensed Reiki Master, heart-centered Graphic Designer and a progressive voice in social media activism & awareness. She is an avid lover of all things Quantum Physics and Spirituality. Connect with Tamara by visiting Prana Paws/Healing Hearts Reiki or go to RantDesignMedia.com