PERCEPTION

Yesterday, my wife and I were having a vibrant debate about the 2016 presidential candidates with some dear friends for over 17 years; although we have been ‘compadres’ for so many years, yesterday we realized that our perception about education, politics and religion are completely opposite.  

​So opposite that it sounded like the lyrics of a song:
   “You say potato and I say tomato,
    You say either and I say neither
    potato, tomato, either, neither
    Let's call the whole thing off”
 
The funny part is that all 4 of our families are first or second generation Americans, you would think that we would have a ‘similar perception’
 
So, here is my thought:
 
First, what is the meaning of perception?
Perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.
 
Everyone’s perception is influenced by their cultural, social, or emotional environment; it’s influenced by what they see, smell, hear or touch. Our perception of the world is influenced by our past experiences, our beliefs and our expectations.
 
Our perception is our reality, which is different from everyone else’s and it is an altered truth; our mind can only contemplate to what it has been exposed to.
 
Now, how can we change our reality?
 
People’s perception of reality is different, yet, by expanding our core beliefs, we can expand the way we perceive the world around; to widen our beliefs we need to step outside our comfort zone.
 
Our comfort zone is any type of behavior that keeps us at a steadily low anxiety level. Everyday activities that we are used to and won’t make us feel anxious or uneasy, are part of our comfort zone.
 
At the beginning, leaving our comfort zone would bring anxiety due to the uncomfortable levels of uncertainty we will need to cope with, but when completed, we will feel accomplished and will increase our levels of confidence.
 
By getting out of our comfort zone more regularly, we will increase the number of things we are comfortable with; and by expanding our comfort zone, it will widen our perception about life.
 
- At the end, after our squabble, I realized that it is time for me to get out of my comfort zone and expand the way I perceive the world.
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