Prospettiva

Perception or perspective? The question reminds me of a riddle….Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Do we perceive before a perspective is created or does a perspective lead to a certain perception? With my amateur level of reasoning, I hypothesize that both happens in a cyclical manner. A writer for Globalmindshift states that behind every action is a perception, and behind every perception is a perspective. To perform better actions, we not only need to develop more accurate perceptions, but also evaluate the adequacy of the perspectives which are produced from our perceptions.  I interpret this as meaning that better beliefs lead to more effective actions. 

                             Perception              Perspective

By definition, a perception is a process by which sensory information is received and interpreted by the brain.  Sensory information is gathered by the five senses and stored as memories. Perceptions are created by images, odor, sounds, taste, and touch. In any given setting or circumstance, our brains are collecting data in order for us to efficiently evaluate our environment to make the appropriate responses. Sometimes,  we are not aware of our senses picking up on stimuli, but we do have the capability of influencing how we evaluate our surroundings. Some people are blessed with more keen skills at listening and observing, but we all can train our senses with a little consistent effort.  Efficient neurological processing of perceptions lead to more accurate impressions. Perceptions can lead to intuition, insight, and knowledge. 

Perspectives are the impressions developed by perceptions, and allow us to look at a situation or object in relationship to the surroundings. These impressions are viewpoints which unfortunately can become permanent, but for a soul to grow and develop with the changing times, it is more effective to be able to make internal shifts in perspectives.  Internal shifting is also known as thinking or looking outside the box. Shifting a perspective allows for a change in understanding of a person or situation which leads a change in our understanding; and brings on tolerance and respect for the circumstances of other people. The result is a multidimensional viewpoint.  Susanna Bil, a design and social researcher, expresses that it can be difficult to embrace other perspectives due to our values and comfort zone. Questioning whether your perspective may be wrong or not applicable to situations can be hard to swallow because we are comfortable with how we see things should happen or play out.  Changing perspectives might mean that we will need to do things differently and that would take effort and work.  Work requires a force acting over a distance. Change can hurt because you must force yourself to think in a different manner in order to produce different actions and this takes practice over and over.  Shifting perspectives may take a community effort, but the change still boils down to each individual person making the change themselves. 

Each perspective has its strengths, and it is by seeing these strengths in juxtaposition to each
other that we have the greatest chance of being able to find ways to combine
the best of each into an ultimately more satisfying synthesis.

James L. McClelland- cognitive scientist

The next time you are in a dilemma, disagreement, or misunderstanding; and are having a hard time finding a resolution, take the opportunity to evaluate your perceptions and current perspectives. You may be due for an overhaul. Don't get stuck in a rut by thinking that it's your way or the highway.  There is always a variety of paths one can travel to arrive at the desired destination.  Shifting perspectives is refreshing; ignites enlightenment; and initiates creativity and wholesome communication.  You will be able to read emails and texts without automatically thinking the worst.  I am in complete agreement with Dr. Wayne Dyer when he recommends, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”

May God's wisdom guide our perceptions and perspectives towards love, charity, and compassion.

May we all be driven more by the patience and understanding of others' perspectives. 
May we all have the courage to admit our perceptions may be out of whack.

St. Jude, pray for our situations of impossible misunderstandings. Amen.- little petunia