There is a War in the Mind

The mind is a massive battlefield. Pat Benatar was so close to being right.

At all times there is a war in the mind between Observation and Perception. Observations are facts. Perceptions are feelings we attach to the facts. In The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday describes perceptions as the problem because they attach feelings to facts, and feelings are not always correct.?

Every single thing that happens to us is a matter of fact: it happened. We instantly know what happened. We do not instantly know how it happened all of the time. We rarely know why it happened for certain, but we typically attach some why. The trouble is that we tend to attach the easiest why, which is not always the best explanation.

Facts become real tricky when we attach feelings to them.

How often have you had an observed experience in traffic behind a slow driver??

Observation: This driver is moving slower than I would like.?

Perception: This driver is moving slower than I would like because he is a moron who doesn’t realize that other people have places to be.?

Reality: This person is new to town and trying to find the correct road, so he is driving a little slower to read the signs.

Observation: Jimmy comes in late to work.

Perception: Jimmy doesn’t take his job seriously. Jimmy is so inconsiderate to everyone else’s time.

Reality: Jimmy just left the hospital after visiting with his mom and getting the latest update from the doctor, and he had the boss’s permission.

Perception is so dangerous because we tend to go with the perception that paints us in a better light. We go with the explanation that makes us feel better about ourselves.?

I suggest we learn to PAUSE before attaching feelings to observations.

A pause can save you from dangerous perceptions.

Practice just observing what is happening and identifying the facts. Wait to gather more information before passing judgment.?

It takes time and consistent effort to withhold judgement, but with practice, it can be done.

Where are you too quick to allow perception to distract you?