Perception...Is it REALITY?

P e r c e p t i o n

perception [pəˈsɛpʃən]  n

1. the act or the effect of perceiving

2. insight or intuition gained by perceiving

3. the ability or capacity to perceive

4. way of perceiving; awareness or consciousness; view

It's raining...it's gonna be a gloomy day.

It's raining...awesome! I don't have to water.

It's raining...people will be driving crazy today!

It's raining...________________ (fill in the blanks)

How do you interpret the events that occur in your life? Your perception is a very powerful tool in determining whether or not you have a good or bad experience, or whether or not a neutral incident totally floors you.

Your perception is your reality, therefore, to you...it IS reality.

Have you ever noticed how different people can experience the exact same event, yet interpret it in entirely different ways? WHERE does YOUR perception come from?

Those inner voices are not easy to distinguish. Sometimes we just accept them as reality, but are they? Is it possible they are someone ELSE'S reality? Someone who raised us or had a large influence over our lives in our formative years or vulnerable moments?

Next time you hear an inner voice trying to interpret an event for you, CHALLENGE IT!!! Is it true? How many ways can a rainy day be interpreted? As many ways as there are PERCEPTIONS of it. Think of the voices in your head. Are they truly yours, or did you just assimilate them? THINK. Be your own best friend/counselor/confidante. Delve into those common interpretations and figure out where they really come from, and then become the author of your new, healthier inner voices. 

Resolutions - Don't Wait for a New Year

A resolve or determination to do something. Firmness of purpose. Why do we need to wait a whole year to make new ones? How about making LIFE resolutions? A mission/purpose/vision/resolve for the rest of your life? 

Top ten lists of new year's resolutions abound. There are many common themes. People want to do better - to BE better. These same people will be making similar resolutions in coming years. 

Why? Because they do not have a plan to maintain the new behaviors. Their "resolutions" are not "firm determination" to accomplish something, but simply "wishful thinking." 


If you want to lose weight, spend more time with family, learn something new or get out of debt,  you need to have a plan of attack. You need to establish new behaviors in your life that don't currently exist. 


How do you make a plan so that your resolutions will stick? Answer some questions, make some lists.


What resources do you need to accomplish your resolution? Do you already have any of them? If not, where will you find these additional resources? What exactly will you do to acquire what you need to succeed? Ask yourself, "Is this something I can continue doing?" 

For instance, if you want to lose weight, you must begin behaving like the thinner person you want to be and continue that behavior for the rest of your life. If you want to get out of debt, you must plan a REASONABLE budget that you can actually follow, while still enjoying life. Think long term and don't wait for the new year. 


Resolve daily to live your new and improved life.