Perception is Reality.......Really?

So here's some Friday fodder for you. Think back to the first time you heard "perception is reality". Did it seem to be so profound to you? Did it cause you to pause and consider things in a different way? For me it did. It also became one of my all time most used catch phrases. I mean think of the endless list of situations that you could reduce your level of responsibility or ownership in, just by saying, perception is reality.

The truth is that your perception is your perception, not mine and not necessarily my reality. I am not saying that we shouldn't try to empathize or understand the point of view of one another. However, I am saying that we should not always so easily accept the use of that phrase. We live in a world of cultural norms, where there exists THE reality, that the majority of people would consider and perceive as reality. I think that when we automatically accept someone saying "perception is reality" in the midst of scratching our heads in confusion, we give that person permission to no longer utilize common sense, or at least the opportunity to grow and see the world as it is.

So, try this, the next time you hear someone say, "well you know, perception is reality", process that through a filter that filters out cop-outs, excuses, and non-sense. You see things, the way that YOU see things and I see things the way that I see things. Your perception is YOURS and mine is MINE, but reality is reality. It either is, or it isn't. In the mean time, be aware of your perception and live in your reality, but try not to be frustrated if someone doesn't understand where you're coming from.

If you perceived your reading this as a waste of time, I am sorry, that's your perception, not mine.

Have a great weekend!