Perspective over Perception

Everyone has perception, but not everyone has perspective. That’s one of the many reasons why it’s so difficult to truly connect and communicate with people these days. We all view the world through our own unique lens, our perception. It's shaped by our experiences, our beliefs, and what we think we know about the world around us.

Being confident in your perception isn’t a bad thing. The problem begins when we only believe in our own perception, when we assume it’s the only valid reality. That’s when connection breaks down. We argue, we clash, we defend our view of the world because we’re trying to justify our perception to someone else who’s seeing things from an entirely different lens.

Perspective is what allows us to step outside of ourselves. It's the act of putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes, even for a moment, to try to see what they see and to borrow their perception. Perspective doesn’t erase our view of the world, but it expands it. It allows us to see beyond our own thoughts, to consider someone else’s reality, and to grow in understanding.

Sometimes, our personal perception of life may feel overwhelming or negative. But once we gain perspective, we start to realize the world isn’t as bad as it seemed. We begin to understand why a friend, a family member, or even a stranger thinks or acts the way they do. We develop empathy, patience, and maybe even a little grace.

Perception is necessary. It’s how we interpret life. But without perspective, we’re trapped in our own minds. The more we practice perspective, the more clearly we can see not just the world, but the people in it.