Flawed Perceptions
Flawed perceptions are the ways in which we inaccurately interpret reality. Since we experience our story in the first-person our scope of understanding is limited. As Popeye the Sailor Man would say “I am what I am and that is all that I am.” Like Popeye we can only know what we know. This incomplete understanding limits our ability to fully comprehend, and effectively navigate our circumstances and interactions.
Flawed perceptions are the sum of our experiences, internal and external boundaries, illnesses, wants, desires, regrets, and biological proclivities.
They are not inherently bad. However, I use the term “flawed” as a means to remind us that we can and will make mistakes. The word is meant to serve as an exercise of humility.
Flawed perceptions manifest in many ways. They may,
- Belittle our confidence
- Exaggerate our sense of self-importance
- Infuse us with bias
- Lure us into a life of fear
- Trick us into believing false and inaccurate ideas6. Limit our ability to make new friends or develop romantic relationships
- Treat others unfairly
- Seek vengeance
- Live with regret
- Lead us astray or make a bad day great
- Give us hope and a means to cope
There are a multitude of ways our false perceptions may influence us.
When we invest time into learning more about our flaws we can isolate and eliminate the ones that are limiting our ability to achieve excellence and encourage harmony.
Some of our Flawed Perceptions are deeply tied to the language we use in life. We can transform how we experience the world by changing how we think and speak.
For example,
The word “trauma” I believe is over used, just like the terms toxic, and PTSD. When we reflect on the words we use and alter how and when we use them we can slowly transform how we interpret and interact with reality.
I almost never use the word trauma, and other words like it, because when we say a word we internalize and feel it. Its like reliving the hardship over and over with a negative connotation. If we reframe the experience with more powerful connotations, and denotations we can more effectively learn and grow from them.
For example, getting cancer was the best thing to ever happen to me. This is more than a mind trick, this is a truth. That journey transformed me into the powerful man I am today. The hardship was a baptism by fire that allowed me to see the brilliant light of life.
My cancer journey is not a trauma, it was a blessing. It was the worst experience of my life and the pain haunts me to this day, but it was beautiful and it has provided me with benefits beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Another way that our Flawed Perceptions manifest is tied with how we see the future, especially if we are afraid of it.
When we search for ways to resolve our fears of the future we often look inwardly to reflect on the horrors that have hurt us. This method is often a misleading light. Rarely do we gain anything when we wallow in our own strife.
To free ourselves from the shackles of suffering we must break the chains of self-victimization and doubt. Once these bonds are broken we will have the strength to muster the mightiest magic of our soul. We will live with a goal and know that we are more than the sum of our suffering.
We will climb the tallest tree and as we stand atop it’s mighty trunk we will bask in the glory of the sun. We will witness the beauty of the world and relearn to live with wonder, awe, and love.
It is easy to fear the future, it is the autopilot of our life. Flip off that switch! Let go of these wayward ideas by choosing to own each day. Bad things will always happen, there is little to nothing we can do about them. Instead of cowering in the corner, stand in the center of the room and relax knowing you will never again succumb to the gloom.
