So many of us spend our days seeing life through a cracked lens. Perception colours everything and gives us an incomplete view of what we are trying to see. Most of the time, we don’t even know that we are seeing an incomplete picture.
Perception is the process of gathering information through your senses, and then, organizing and making sense of it. The process of gathering information is gained through what you see, hear, feel, taste and smell. It happens naturally without any effort on your part.
As you process this information with your knowledge, memories and attention, a new picture is formed. Here is an example from our breakfast table.
Ed, my husband, does not like strong coffee. I like strong coffee. When we make a pot of coffee in the morning, we have agreed to move the setting on our coffeepot about halfway between medium and strong.
Ed perceives his coffee compromise as a little strong, but ok and I perceive my coffee compromise as a little weak, but still flavourful. It’s fascinating that two cups of coffee from the same pot can have such different responses. Each of us is experiencing our coffee through our own cracked lens.
Here is an interesting question for you to contemplate – Are you seeing your life through the eyes of your brain or the eyes of your heart? Did you know there is a difference?
Let’s play with this…
As I look out my window, here is information that I gather from my senses.
- A fence, a light brown colour.
- 2 apple trees with a few apples still remaining.
- Green grass and apples on the ground that have fallen from the trees.
- Dark green colour of the hedge at the back of the yard with berries beginning to turn red.
- A few caws from a crow across the street.
- The sound of rippling water from our little fountain in the backyard pond.
- A blue sky with no clouds.
You may have noticed there is no interpretation. Just observation.
Now, let’s play with an interpretation of each of these statements from the perspective of the eyes of the mind:
- The fence is looking a little weathered and really needs staining.
- I don’t know if I will get around to picking those remaining apples before they fall to the ground. I’m so busy.
- It’s going to be pain to rake up all the apples that have fallen and get them into the recycling bin.
- That hedge is so overgrown. I really have to get out the trimming shears and get to work on it.
- Those crows can be such a nuisance with their noise and getting into things.
- The fountain is not keeping up with clearing all the algae that has grown in the pond.
- No clouds for now, I hope we don’t get another hail storm.
Can you feel the difference in these interpretations? How does it feel?
Ok. Now, let’s play with an interpretation of each of these statements from the perspective of the eyes of the heart:
- I am grateful for our fence that gives our yard a container of quiet and privacy.
- Our apples trees have been so abundant this year, we have been able to have neighbours come over to pick as much as they want and still have lots for ourselves.
- One of our neighbours is so grateful of the gift of fallen apples for his compost. He says they help to make the best compost for his garden – and ours. He brings over a couple of wheelbarrows of the mixture in the spring.
- Our hedge is home to so many birds, chirping joyfully over the abundance of berries.
- I love how the caw of the crows are such great reminders for me to be mindful and return to the present moment.
- The sound of gentle bubbling water from our pond creates my ‘zen’ place in our backyard, where I can meditate or work with focus.
- There is nothing like the beautiful blue of a clear sky. It reminds me of having a clear mind.
Can you feel the difference in these interpretations? How does it feel?
I find it infinitely fascinating that the same sensory information can lead to infinite interpretations in the hearts and minds of our human sisters and brothers.
We live in an increasingly chaotic world and energetic soup. I invite you to become more aware of how you are ‘interpreting’ throughout your day. You will always find your centre within you when you choose to see with the eyes of your heart.
In Health and Harmony,
