Perception

Our world is determined by our perception.

In my previous post, I wrote that a depressive believes his negative state of mind to be ‘Reality’ based on his negative perceptions.  This is because everything we see is filtered through the lens of our perceptions.

Merriam - Webster defines ‘perception’ thus:

• 1 a: a result of perceiving : observation b: a mental image : concept
• 2obsolete : consciousness
• 3 a: awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation <color perception> b: physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience
• 4 a: quick, acute, and intuitive cognition : appreciation b: a capacity for comprehension

Nowhere in this description do you find the phrase: ‘absolute reality’.  Yet we commonly accept our observations to be reality.  We observe, construct a concept based on our  incomplete data, form an assumption, and call it reality!  When this observation is made a second time with the same conclusions, (which is likely, seeing it now has a ‘history’ in our consciousness), it is well on it’s way to becoming a ‘core belief’.

I imagine that it’s the “quick, intuitve, cognition” that gets us in trouble most of the time.  ‘Snap’ judgements, without thinking things through, will only further seperate us from reality.  How many times have we found ourselves in an argument, only to discover we misunderstood the person we are arguing with?

We have a built in tendacy to think everyone percieves things the same way we do!  For instance, I used to answer direct questions very literally.  My first wife was very Indirect.  She would ask: “Do you want to take out the trash?” (meaning, of course, ”please take out the trash.”)  Unfortunately, my mind percieved the question literally, which was: “do you want to take out the trash?”  My answer would always be No!  You can imagine where that led us! 

When I finally realized what was going on, I explained it only to hear: “Oh you know what I mean!”  Actually I hadn’t.  I had been trying to figure out why anyone would want to take out the trash! 

That automatic assumption that everyone percieves reality the same as ourself, just reinforces our belief that what we see is reality.  Therefore we begin, deep down, to resent those who attempt to ‘persuade us’ that we have no need to be depressed–we just need to: “think positive”!

Before I go further, let me tell you that I am not discounting the benefits of ‘Positive Thinking’.  It’s an absolute necessity!  Unforunately it’s not the answer for someone in the depths of Depression.  One way to define an individual with severe depression, could be: “one who lacks the ability to think positive.”  That would be a very limited description, but accurate!

Just understand this if you suffer from mild to moderate Depression:

• Your perceptions are unbalanced, not an equal mix of both the positive and the negative
• Your perceptions are just an impression of reality, not reality itself.
• Because of “negatively charged” perceptions, you are ‘magnetized’ to draw even more ‘negative’ experiences to yourself.  Experiences which will only reinforce your depression.
• You can choose how you wish to percieve any experience.