Putting Your Perception into Perspective

Our lives are inundated with a constant flow of information filled with various moving parts.

We try to make sense of it all by relying on a number of filters. These can be distorted by our mood, distractions, present awareness and energy levels.

Without realizing it, we isolate a set of what we believe to be facts and create narratives around them as if they are the whole truth when, in actuality, they are only our interpretations.

Our primary senses of sight and hearing serve as windows through which we interact with the world. However, just because something feels real doesn’t necessarily make it true. The meanings that we assign to our experiences can be highly subjective, judgmental and often inaccurate.

What’s true for all of us is that perception shapes our reality. How we interpret and understand the world directly impacts our beliefs, interactions with others and the choices we make in our lives.

Who we are and what happens around us is colored by societal norms, media impressions and the influences of others in our inner circle. These increase challenges to distinguish which values and perspectives truly belong to us.

Compounding matters is information overload. Has the sheer volume of content in our daily lives outpaced the human brain’s capacity to process it effectively? Everything from social media, email and advertisements to the increasing complexities of technology, especially with AI, all diminish our abilities to keep pace.

We find ways to adapt. For instance, the graphic below is a reminder of how overwhelming visual stimuli can be. You’ll likely a make a split-second decision to skim past it with knowing that 'selective comprehension' won't detract from understanding its intent.

It’s also easy for something to get lost in translation with interpersonal communication. So many things have to go right to have an accurate exchange. Each individual brings their own unique perspective, which can lead to interpreting the same message in completely opposite ways that result in misunderstandings. Here’s where two “rights” do not make either wrong.

As we take a closer look at the proverbial “he said, she said” scenario between persons A and B, it’s essential to consider factors such as communication styles, emotional barriers and coping mechanisms.

Recognizing the limitations of our perceptions underscores the importance of giving others the benefit of the doubt. Fostering patience, empathy and open-mindedness help establish boundaries that cultivate healthier and more effective exchanges.

Similarly, practicing self-compassion, focusing on facts and maintaining a positive outlook can help alleviate misperceptions. Trust yourself.

LET’s GET PRACTICAL

Though we contend with various limitations in managing perception, the good news is that many other factors are well within our control to gain greater clarity and perspective. Here are a few techniques to give a try.

PART 1: Take a Perception Snapshot

In under a total of 30 seconds, use the table below to compartmentalize all the moving parts in your life. You may wish to further clarify, separate and/or add to the topics in the left column. Then, simply assign a positive or negative rating to each category. Trust your first instincts rather than overthinking anything.

PART 2: Experience Gratitude

Devote a few minutes to express gratitude for the positive aspects of your life, no matter how small. Consider what you might take for granted. If your basic needs are met and you and all your loved ones are reasonably healthy, everything else is circumstantial!

PART 3: Gain Perspective

Life happens, which is to say that it’s more than likely you have assigned at least one situation to the negative column. Now’s when to get hyper-present to put things into perspective.

● Fact-check your Concerns: rely on your “fiction filter” to differentiate what is actually happening from any uncertainties, such as worries or assumptions, that may not require your time and energy.

● Confirm Severity: how significant and serious is the situation? Is your Earned Confidence strengthened by having overcome a similar or worse situation before? Consider how long and what it will take to improve. Could the solution be simpler? Might it help to make a conscious shift in your perception?

● Assess Permanence: Are the circumstances permanent or finite? Sometimes there’s just no other way but through, but the other side is there. Might it help to shift your focus, such as on self-care?

(Insert deep breath here)

● Seek Objectivity: Perspectives are prone to shifting on any given day. Try considering what’s happening from an impartial standpoint, free from personal biases, distortions or interpretations.

This becomes all-the-more essential when faced with adversities, such as grief, and severe challenges, like depression. Here’s when to use the techniques that instill and sustain you with presence and resilience.

Optimism and pessimism apply to the very same set of circumstances. The ultimate question with perception has less to do with whether your glass is half full or half empty as much as it does with whether you can simply be grateful that you have a glass.

The choice to live on THE BRIGHT SIDE is always yours.

Until next Thursday...

THE BRIGHT SIDE is a 100% Human-Generated Publication

TBS Issue 6 - Personal Message

I hope you found this week's article enriching and welcome you to spend a few more minutes together to share:

● How the first 6 issues relate to one another

● An experience with perception playing a trick on you

● A preview of our next two featured topics

To your HAPPIERNESS!

Author of “Z-isms: Insights to Live By” (free eBook and Audiobook)

Host of “Insights to Live By – The Podcast”

Contact: matt@Z-isms.com

PAYING IT FORWARD

Please accept my warmest thanks for being part of this new endeavor. With nearly 2,000 subscribers already, I feel the responsibility of giving this my all to make it worth your while. My only ask is to consider inviting others you know who will enjoy this content. There's no time like the present to share THE BRIGHT SIDE!

NEW RELEASE

Episode 110: Creating Meaning at Work with Steve Van Valin

Does your company embody a culture that’s innovative, agile and energized and what does it take to do? Joining the show to answer those questions and share his insights is the founder of Culturology, Steve Van Valin. He’s a culture-shaping strategist, engagement expert and author of the new book, “The Search for Meaning at Work, Unleashing the Hidden Power of Purpose to Engage Your Workforce.” For 14 years, Steve led the culture initiatives at QVC to make collaboration their ultimate strategic advantage. Here we discuss amplifiers of meaning to create cohesiveness, especially for hybrid cultures to thrive.

HAPPENINGS

THIS WEEK's POLL

● How much do you rely your intuition for decision-making?

● Matt's interview about "Beating Burnout" is on Stories with Traction, hosted by Matt Zaun

● Interactive WORKSHOP-inars: "Instilling Presence and Resilience with Uncommon Skill-Building Techniques” 

Matt routinely presents this program to various professional organizations among talent development, human resources, organizational development and other networking groups. If you would like to view a recording of this presentation, one is available through the Global Institute of Organizational Development (GIODN). However, to participate, you'll need the program activities worksheet. Please email Matt (above) if you'd like him to send you that and the program link to experience it for yourself.

ADDITIONAL TOPICS FOR WORKSHOPS, KEYNOTES AND LEARNING PROGRAMS

● Extinguishing Burnout: Personally and Organizationally

● Recouping Productivity by Taming Overthinking

● Managing Energy Personally, Interpersonally and Universally

● Defeating Depression for Good

● Foundational Skills for Emotional Intelligence

● Honing Your Intuition for Personal Effectiveness

● Living Your Best Life with Happierness

To have Matt keynote your next event or support your people with workshops, retreats and other custom training programs: Book My Calendar to explore this together.

TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MATT's LEARN-BY-DOING EXPERIENTIAL COURSES: The Mindset Reset, WellBeing Reset, Life Upgrade modules (click here)

MORE FREE RESOURCES

Depression Defeater tool and about Mood Health

Self-Care Report Card tool

REVISIT PAST ISSUES

● Issue 1: The 2 Skills to Enrich Your Life for Good

● Issue 2: The Pursuit of Happierness

● Issue 3: The Power of Earned Confidence

● Issue 4: Outsmarting Your Worries and Assumptions

● Issue 5: Trusting Your Intuition to Tame Overthinking

THE ESSENTIALS

Z-isms: The inspirational pearls of wisdom, life lessons or personal experiences people share to positively impact the lives of others; Insights to Live By.

Happierness®: A life-enriching mindset combining presence, resilience and free will to be intentionally present and have a reflex of positivity by choosing to embrace the bright side of every situation.

Earned Confidence: An logic filter based on one’s life experiences that proves it unnecessary to worry, be anxious or make assumptions about uncertainties because one is fully capable to cope with actual occurrences in real time.

Resilience: The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; remain unaffected by insignificant occurrences; adapt to challenges; and, keep things in perspective.

Presence: The conscious state of observing, noticing and/or experiencing life as it happens while remaining free of distraction; intentional engagement to tune-in to the moments that matter.

Objectivity: Expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without personal biases, distortions or interpretations; to consider what’s happening from an impartial standpoint.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

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