Emerly Lee – Week 12: The Power of Perception
Overthinker? Misunderstood? Pessimistic? These are all qualities that are influenced by our own perception. Our perception of how our small tiny actions impacted others' perception of us. Our perception of a statement that's intention was misconstrued. Our perception that under no circumstances will things go our way. These are all the ways perception influences our thinking and can slowly spiral into things that are far often not what they seem.
It was not very apparent to me just how much perceptions influenced the way in which we viewed all aspects of our life, until I was reading an article about how perceptual thinking has influenced the way nuclear war plays out and how it even affects individuals and societies alike. The statement, at first left me a little confused because oftentimes it is a concept that goes untouched. I thought how could the way we think about something have so much influence to the point it starts a nuclear war, yet the more I began to mull over the idea, the more I realized the truth behind such statements. Perception is seemingly it is some of the most prevalent aspects of reimagining society.
One way to look at it is in poorer communities. Children living in poorer communities are often from a young age not exposed to the best quality of education or environment that forces them to challenge their options. Education that forces them to seek opportunities simply because they can not afford to see such opportunity. Thus, rather than being trained to seek higher opportunities many are often failed by the system and are pushed to see social mobility as stagnant. The perception that they can’t achieve better is often what blocks our lower class society from feeling as though they can not and will never achieve greater. Looking comparatively, especially when we take time to reflect on our access to opportunities, many of us have parents who can afford to show us a better life. They allowed us to perceive greater possibility, but unfortunately it's often not the reality for many in lower society. When looking at even simple comparisons it's easier to understand just how much our lives are impacted based on how we simply view our circumstances.
And this…this is the true power of perception.
Hi Emerly! Your blog was really thought-provoking and made me reflect upon ideas I had never even considered important before, such as the difference psychology can make on a larger societal scale. Although what we say or do is what people perceive of us, our true intentions never gain a fair opportunity to be revealed, and this creates a split between what people end up believing. I really enjoyed how you used multiple examples to present your argument, starting with your personal experiences of how people can feel misunderstood simply because their perspective does not match others, then build up with how national perspectives can even cause nuclear war and the perspective of the impoverished locks them into their lifestyle. Personal bias and our own opinion of our ability is often the largest barrier that prevents people from seeing their world like others, an idea which you captured beautifully in your conclusion. I think that we can all benefit from being able to see the world from other people’s shoes and be open-minded enough to learn from the experiences of others. While the diverse perspectives of the people in the world is what makes the world a beautiful place to live in, something being able to create a shared human perspective that connects us all together. I really enjoyed your style as it really made me question some of my own choice through the questions you posed!
ReplyDeleteHello, Emerly! Your post really made me think about how much perception shapes our lives and how deeply it influences the way we experience the world. It made me realize just how much the way we view things can drive actions—sometimes even to disastrous outcomes—without us ever fully realizing it. I also completely agree with your point about children in poorer communities. It's true that when kids aren't exposed to opportunities or shown what’s possible beyond their immediate circumstances, it limits their perception of what they can achieve. Perception really has a significant impact, not just on individual success, but on how entire communities and societies operate. Your post made me rethink how I view my own opportunities and the importance of broadening that perspective to help others see beyond their current situations!
ReplyDeleteHello, Emerly! I found your blog interesting and I agree to the fact that the way we view our own opportunities can either propel us forward or hold us back. The way we see things depends on our mindsets and how our brain interprets it shapes our understanding of the world. I found your example of the nuclear war intriguing, as I too had the same reaction, the perception that misled the goals due to misunderstanding, assumptions, and non realism could result in such a big global consequence.Your point about education and opportunity being limited by perception is so important, children in poorer communities view opportunities in a different way which again shows that environment shapes their perception which then shapes their goals or mindsets with completely different expectations to themselves. Anyways I truly enjoyed reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Emerly! Your blog was really interesting to read as it focuses on the power of perception and how it can influence everything we see in life. It made me reflect on the way I perceive things and how the experiences I've lived through have shaped the way I see things. Your example of how people living in poorer communities don't get the chance to be exposed to opportunities or get shown what's possible with their life also shaped my response to the power of perception. Limiting the possibilities of what can really happen when you are exposed to opportunities can have a significant impact on children, especially wehnt ehy are young and really don't know anything yet. Your blog was overall really interesting to read and made me rethink how I view opportunities and experiences and how they can shape my perception of things.
ReplyDeleteHello, Emerly! I think that your exploration of the topic of perception is extremely interesting as you describe how our individual mindset ultimately shapes and impacts our reality. I admire how you linked perception to individual problems; such as pessimism or overthinking, while simultaneously alluding to larger issues such as social mobility and war. I would agree that the perception of our circumstances can limit our potential as we are not able to fully recognize greater opportunities yet. Your point about how children living in less-fortunate communities may be affected by this was extremely fascinating, and I admire how you linked the two. Overall, this blog was very informative, I hope to read more of your blogs in the future!
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