None of what we see, feel, hear or touch is real. It's our brain's translation of sensory information. The brain has incredibly complex processes to interpret the huge volume of constantly changing signals from our senses.
Thankfully, all of this sense processing is completely unconscious. The brain just presents you with a simple, stable perception of the world.
This allows you to say "I saw a dog", instead of being overwhelmed by the vastness of information that a dog is. Colours, shadows, lines and shapes, all constantly changing through the dog's movement, the changing environment, the wind, the light.
Well, "so what?" you might say. The brain filtering out most of the information we have about the world allows us to get on with our day instead of standing there looking at a dog for an hour just trying to take it all in.
But what about our perception of something slightly more abstract. What is it that allows us to say "I saw an angry dog"? How do you know how the dog was feeling? That a dog can feel anger? This is where the world of perception starts to be coloured by our beliefs. Animals having human feelings is something we believe, because we have anthropomorphised them. It's probably not true, but we believe it. And because we believe it, our brain delivers up a perception about what's happening that matches our belief.
Now think about what happens when a group of people get together and start believing in something supernatural. The idea that people can be touched by God. Or that they can heal, see auras, read thoughts. Proofs might be offered, peer pressure exerted, exciting possibilities raised, and what you perceive can change according to your new expectations.
Having supernatural beliefs can enable you to perceive things that don't exist.
The same is true of emotions. Alan Saks and Gary Jons list in their components of perception:
In different motivational or emotional states, the perceiver will react to or perceive something in different ways. Also in different situations he or she might employ a "perceptual defence" where they tend to "see what they want to see".
(emphasis added - from Wikipedia: Perception)This tendency we have to 'see what we want to see' leads to a compounding effect. Because you see things more bleakly than they are when your mood is depressed. You alienate your friends, and generally become further depressed by negative experiences brought about by your own negativity and apathy.
The reverse is true as well. People with smiles and positive attitudes are attractive to positive reactions from others. This feedback leads to a more positive perception of the world.
I can visualise this feedback loop as a spiral. A negative mood leading to negative feedback leading to more negative moods. A tightening, closing off leading inward to the dark center of the spiral. A positive mood opening out to positive feedback, leading to more positivity, more expansion and light.
Regardless of the causes, each of us see the world differently to one another, to other creatures and to reality (whatever that might be).
I think that understanding perception is a powerful thing. It can help you disassociate yourself from unhelpful perceptions that cause you pain or lead you into depression. It can help you perceive the possibility of better things happening, and help to bring them about.
Photography:
Rose Coloured Deceptions - Derek Gavey,
Spiraling - papalars
