Perception: How Our View of the World Shapes Our Reality

Cambridge Dictionary defines perception as “a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem”. People form an opinion about a particular subject based on what they’ve experienced or seen in the past. From those experiences, they form a judgment and it may or may not match with others’ viewpoints.

Every person in this world is going through something or other in their life. Based on that, they perceive their surroundings. One day I was walking on my balcony and noticed a bird flying in the sky. Most people, including my sister, think that the bird is free and can go wherever it wants, but has anyone thought about the struggle of that bird? It may struggle daily to find food or a place to rest, especially as the concrete jungle continues to grow. Yes! The bird has freedom to go wherever it wants, however no one knows what the bird feels or thinks. The bird might think about how lucky the humans are, at least they have a roof over their heads! It’s all about how one perceives.

“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend."

- Robertson Davies

Two people can witness the same thing, and interpret it differently based on their mindset and past events. While reflecting on this, I observed my surroundings and explored some insights online. I came across several other factors besides mindset and past events that influence how we perceive things. Here I have listed some factors that I found relevant:

• Expectation:
  Our brain tends to perceive what it expects. For instance, if we expect someone to behave rudely, we might interpret their words or actions in a negative way, even if they didn’t mean it that way.
• Interest:
  We notice more of what we’re passionate about. Someone who loves fashion may quickly spot design details others might miss.
• Culture:
  The values and traditions we grow up with shape how we view the world. What’s considered polite or normal in one culture might seem unusual in another.
• Environment:
  Our surroundings like noise, lighting, people around us and weather can affect how we interpret things. A calm place can make us more open-minded, while a chaotic one might make us feel defensive.
• Age:
  Our perception changes as we grow. A child may find joy in things adults don’t even notice, while adults may perceive situations with more complexity. 
• Needs:
  When we’re missing something (emotionally or physically), we tend to focus more on it. For example, someone who feels unappreciated may be more sensitive to being ignored.
• Emotion:
  Our feelings in the moment can completely change how we see things. A happy mind sees beauty where a stressed mind might see problems.

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”

- Oprah Winfrey 

This also depends on how we perceive things. When we start to be more present at the moment, stop comparing our life with others’, and not just focus on what’s missing in our life, we begin to enjoy more and truly start living.

I am in my mid 20’s, and I have understood that living at present is the most important part. It can be difficult, depending on our circumstances. But there’s something that we can do, that is, show appreciation for what we have rather than just complain about what we don’t have. If you are missing something in life, and if it’s meant for you, it will come to you no matter what! I always say this to myself, and motivate myself to appreciate what I have.

“Perception is not just what we see, but how we choose to see it!” — Anonymous