Perception is Everything

in #dropintheocean6 years ago (edited)

Magic Lake

Magic Lake.....fed by the spring of Creation
A looking glass for the soul's reflection
From which the image is cast

To the observer it is a paradox
for it only reflects what is seen

Serving to the question "what would you like me to be?"

What an interesting topic to talk about, PERCEPTION!

It's also a bit of a paradox as my poem suggests. The paradox is that what is reality if we are our own perceptions as 'observers' of this world? Especially if the world and those around us, are telling us what we should carry as a model for who we are - at least, what we perceive others think of us.

“I am not who you think I am; I am not who I think I am; I am who I think you think I am ” ~ Thomas Cooley

Is my perception the same as someone elses perception? And if that is true, then who's version of reality is accurate - if any? Do multiple siblings have the same perception of a shared memory? They often don't.

It might seem to be a small, insignificant topic, but I think our perceptions carry great significance in that they do shape our world and our future.

So, let's start with the most basic terms, what is the dictionary definition of PERCEPTION:

Perception - Insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. We all perceive those around us because of the way in which the human mind processes information.

A word that is often confused as perception is 'opinion'

Opinion - a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. Opinion, however, is a matter of arriving at a decision based on initial perceptions. Opinion is when you take the information filtered through your perception, analyze it, and arrive at a decision, regardless of how flawed your analysis might be.

Your Perception is Everything

A well-known concept or theory on perception, is that of The Looking-Glass Self by Charles Horton Cooley.

In Cooley's body of work, he suggests that our perceptions are formed very early in life from infancy and offers three steps in this progression of self-identity and the mirrored model as a basis to building the framework of self-perception:

  • The imagination of our appearance to others

  • The imagination of their judgment of that appearance.

  • The development of feelings about and responses to these judgments

Notice anything interesting here?

Perception is being drawn from outside of ourselves and we are perceiving who we are from that place based on what we perceive to be true or not.

He further states that many of our feelings about ourselves are attributable to our interpretations of others' impressions of us.

Most likely your perceptions of yourself have in one way or another been conveyed to you during your interactions with others.

Since our own mental filter and perception chooses what we experience and how we feel, it should also be noted that, in some cases, those mental structures can have fallacies that don't exactly represent facts. This is called, cognitive distortion and will cause the mind to take these distorted details and weave them into the story of what we perceive as our reality.

This is why it's so important to evaluate what you are perceiving from others and how and why you feel the way you do. Is it fact or is this based on a fallacy created in order to make that inaccurate self-held belief true?

If our emotions follow our thoughts, then we are ultimately responsible for those emotions. We own them and we own the lens in which we perceive our reality.

Personally, I don't want to allow negativity as the source of what I perceive the world from. That's not to say, the world doesn't have negativity in it and we don't have a lot of cleanup to do, but there is a lot of good, too. Our perceptions serve us best when they are well-balanced and consist of checks and balances to alleviate the distorted mindsets and thoughts which really do nothing constructive to make the world or our own lives better.

Cooley also breaks down the process of socialization which help build our self-perception and our world reality:

  • Family
  • School
  • Mass Media/Social Media/Technology

If you would like to learn more about the implications of these three sources for socialization, read: Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology

Media

I would like to touch on the media portion of this socialization, however, because Newspapers, magazines, radio, television and movies play an important transmitter of culture and perception. They are actually one of the most powerful agents of socialization.

If media is helping shape our identity and that message is a negative one, consider how this is affecting our perceptions and how we interact and relate to one another!

Is mass media and advanced technologies of communication beneficial?

When you consider cultural hegemony (the domination of cultural industries by elite groups) such as the educational system, religion, the family and most importantly, the media in modern society - you have to give this question some serious thought!

Who and what are you giving permission to not only influence your perception of yourself and the world, but also shaping the society you live in. Where is this taking society in the future?

Doesn't putting this question in these terms, warrant deeper thought and decision making? Often times, we take this for granted and don't give it much thought but it is very important and we should be aware of the who and the what.

For the most part, the media today (which reaches millions of people within moments) is largely and disproportionately influenced by large corporations and government. This has been the case for a very long time, but most especially since 2011 when the Smith Mundt Act was repealed. Now, it is legal to use propaganda on the public. I do not know what the regulations and laws are in other countries, I suspect similar since propaganda is so widespread.

Edward Bernays is considered the Father of Propaganda (Nephew of Sigmund Freud). In the 1940's, he was in high demand by many well-known corporations and industries. Bernays had the midas touch and inside logistics for basically hacking public perception. In his early days, he was called upon to save the aluminum industry by launching a campaign to promote fluoride as healthy. You see, this industrial waste bi-product was threatening the aluminum industry's survival because of the expensive disposal and lawsuits that were racking up due to the disastrous environmental and health effects. Public perception that fluoride was toxic was growing.

The campaign went something like this:

How simple it is to influence minds and create a false perception.

This is what Edward Bernays thinks of the general public:

He described the masses as irrational and subject to herd instinct—and outlined how skilled practitioners could use crowd psychology and psycho-analysis to control them in desirable ways.

Bernays touted the idea that the "masses" are driven by factors outside their conscious understanding, and therefore their minds can and should be manipulated by the elite few.

"Intelligent men must realize that propaganda is the modern instrument by which they can fight for productive ends and help to bring order out of chaos." ― Edward L. Bernays

“Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.” ― Edward L. Bernays

“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. ...We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. ...In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons...who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” ― Edward L. Bernays

The reason why Edward Bernays is important to this topic is that he pioneered the public relations field and it is the basis for much of what is utilized by both governments and corporations to manipulate public perception.

So, you have to really consider, what exactly is reality if nearly every aspect of our lives has been modeled by propaganda?

Is this all that we are? Just some meshing together of brain matter that acts like a computer and easily manipulated and hacked?

NO!

I'm sure that some would wish it to be that way and I'm sure that there are those that believe this is who we are, but we are far more than this and perception expands far beyond the confines of our sensory system and brain.

No one is going to convince me otherwise. I think humanity is full of potential equal to our ability to imagine and create. THIS is the true self - the un-hackable part.

The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing. ~ David Foster Wallace

Now, let's travel a little deeper into perception

To understand is to perceive patterns

True comprehension comes when the dots are revealed and you realize the bigger picture.

“I see the mycelium as the Earth's natural Internet, a consciousness with which we might be able to communicate. Through cross-species interfacing, we may one day exchange information with these sentient cellular networks. Because these externalized neurological nets sense any impression upon them, from footsteps to falling tree branches, they could relay enormous amounts of data regarding the movements of all organisms through the landscape.”
― Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World

Mycelium growth Source by Rafal Szczerski

Neurons in the brain Source
by Bruttokolliko

Source

Social Network Source

According to sociologist, Richard Jenkins, the human condition has always meant going beyond the evidence of our senses. In other words, every aspect of our lives is tied to the collective sense...something beyond ourselves.

An interesting project that has been ongoing for a decade or so, is Global Consciousness Project (run out of Princeton) which studies this seemingly mysterious phenomenal of collectiveness.

The GCP, which has international participants of about 25,000, is utilizing advanced magnetometer sensing technology to observe changes in the earth’s magnetic field by, among other possible effects, mass human emotions.


RealTime Data from GCP

The ball changes color according to spikes in variations around the world. This little ball went completely haywire 4 hours before 9/11 happened suggesting that somehow, in some way, our consciousness was tuned into something that had not even occurred yet. Suggesting that we are not only connected to one another but also connected to the events that happen or will happen in the future.

If we are indeed this interconnected network of patterns and consciousness then surely there must be a higher collaborative exchange happening outside of our normal realized perception. I find that very comforting.

I think that our experiences with the numinous, as well, gives us this validating clue that there is something more to us than just the mechanics of our brain and senses - Despite our ignorance of things that exist outside our perceivable knowledge.

Take for example the spiritual or mystical experience. These experiences seem to expand our perception beyond the known. We get little glimpses of something much bigger than ourselves. Suddenly the experiencer discovers the doors of perception are cleansed and new perceptions come into being...new ideas, new inspirations, new understanding. Is this not how creativity and imagination also happen?

There is a consistency to this experience shared. Some of the hallmarks are:

  • Feelings of Unity or Oneness with everything and interconnection
  • Transcendence of time and space
  • The Mind feels free of the shackles of the ego
  • A sensation of bliss/love and ecstatic gratitude
  • A feeling that you are connecting with something sacred and divine
  • The experience and feeling is beyond the ability to put into words
  • You are able to hold many perspectives at once without the constraints of judgment
  • The experience leaves a person transformed and the change is ever-lasting - it is life changing and it opens up expansive new perspectives, profound perspectives
    Source

Once you start connecting the dots of all these patterns and experiences, you begin to see the bigger picture, or at least consider that there is more to reality than we realize.

One of the most profound new discoveries on the horizon in theoretic physics is E8. A theoretical physicist named, Garrett Lisi, has discovered quite possibly the 'Theory of Everything' - the keys to how reality works and our ability to interact with it. Maybe even creatively solve some of our biggest problems.

E8Petrie

The above is a precise mathematical representation of E8 or the 8th dimension. It appears to encode all of the particles and forces of our 3-dimensional universe. It far exceeds string theory in its fluidy of concept and ability to cohesively bridge together so many unsolved problems within the theoretical physics study. Another scientist, Klee Irwin, believes that the universe is essentially a 3-dimensional "shadow" of this enigmatic thing that may exist behind the curtain of our reality.

To further blow the mind, when Klee Irwin makes an irrational projection of E8, down to a lower dimensional 'shadow' in 3D (where our current perceivable reality resides), something remarkable happens...the object becomes a 'language'! A language of geometric letters and rules that allows you to arrange those letters and encode those letters with information. Forget 1's and 0's...this takes us to a whole new level of perception and creativity.

As I stated in my last post on "life is astonishing", new experiences EXPAND our perspective - we are literally stepping outside of the constructs of limited perception into a state of wonderment/creativity!

"Those who were seen dancing were called insane by those that could not hear the music" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche


If you have the time, this is both an entertaining and informative documentary on E8 (28 min)

Is there an 8-dimensional "engine" behind our universe?

Source


Additional Sources:

Charles Horton Cooley:

  • Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology Source

Perception is just another Drop in the Ocean. To find out more about participating in @buddyup 's next topic, you can find out more -----> HERE

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Blew my mind! Totally! I'll need another level on the dimensional ladder to be added now, so I can adjust my thinking. There was SO much for me to take in, play about with in my head, and then try to make some kind of order that fit my present reality add a bridge to it and then take me across to the other side.
cray cray.png

Nah.....lol It's simple, "Perception is Everything" - That's all you have to know ;)

That's what I call great content contributing to the real values of the vision of Steemit.
The big paradox of life and philosophy is that we can't exchange each other's experiences but we can experience the other person's behavior as the can experience my behavior, using mutual perceptions to collect our experience of other people.
In this sense, perception is everything because it mediates to categories that are humanly impossible to exchange.
So we can only perceive the "interpersonal persona" that is generated in a communication of two beings with permanent values, creating a field of virtual values in a confrontation (that generate inner anxiety), and when the encounter finishes we will go back to our permanent values to restore equilibrium.
Perception is the vortex of experience but we can never forget the values that influence it.

I whole-heartedly agree, @charlie77pt

Multiple exchanges of perception going on in any interaction.

Perception is the vortex of experience but we can never forget the values that influence it.

I love this....so true and wonderful way of visually expressing that.

Finally saw this...

I think I'm gonna have to watch it like 3 more times hehehehe

Maybe 4. LOLOL

Congrats on the Curie!!! (You always deserve them..you put SO much into your writing!!!)

Loved this!

Reading your post was like going back to a professional's article in a specialized magazine. All the perspectives you are observing the mater from are flattering your point, and especially the tailoring to the concepts of the Big Papa - Edward L. Bernays. Congratulations on your deservedly achieved Curie!

Thank you so much, @ravijojla ;)

Hi youhavewings,

This post has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed). Have a great day :)

Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.

What a surprise to wake up to this Curie support this morning! I really appreciate what you all do for the Steemit community - truly! You're the best! You've boosted my confidence in writing over these months of being on Steemit - Just THANK YOU so very much.

I found the topic you have chosen very interesting to make the publication, it reminded me of my first year of study in psychology, at that time a professor dedicated full classes to explain what perception was. We feel, we see, we smell, we touch and we taste things through the five senses. these things are sensations that ascend to our brain, and there they are interpreted in a way that depends on the human being at stake, and this interpretation descends as a perception. Each human being perceives different things even if it is the same sensation or stimulus. In short, human beings are an unexplored universe.

Hi @iraidamatheus

Each human being perceives different things even if it is the same sensation or stimulus. In short, human beings are an unexplored universe.

This is so lovely! What a beautiful description of the human being. I think there is a lot of truth in your words....so much truth.

Thank you for sharing this - words to really think about and ponder. Would make a nice poem, too!

I thought by the title that you would mention the Buddha, who says:

What is the All? Simply the eye & forms, ear & sounds, nose & aromas, tongue & flavors, body & tactile sensations, intellect & ideas. This, monks, is called the All.

That is to say, the all is only the perception; the one that perceives (subject) and the perceived (object), nothing more.

A well-known concept or theory on perception, is that of The Looking-Glass Self by Charles Horton Cooley.

It is interesting, if our perception is created based on the information we collect from our environment, it means in turn that we also influence the perception of those around us.

This means that there is a feedback between all, and therefore, none can be the cause of perception, but all work together. And I refer back to Buddha; for there to be visual perception (vision) there must be something that is seen (object) and someone that sees (subject).

About media, you mention culture hegemony, and Gramsci does a very good job of developing it, however, he makes the same mistake as all Marxists; reductionism.

Just as a reciprocity between the one who perceives and the perceived is necessary for there to be perception. It's necessary that there is reciprocity between governors/rulers and the governed/people so that there is governance. Therefore, there cannot be a cultural hegemony created unilaterally.

I don't say that such hegemony does not exist, because it does, but I say that such hegemony has been created with the consensus of a large part of the population, and until they don't stop supporting such hegemony, it will remain intact.

Although the government allows propaganda to be diffused on TV, no one is ever obliged to see it, therefore, and as I said, there is feedback.

Excellent post, a lot to think about, and a lot to comment on, and for this I regret having extended myself so much. Regards!

Loading...

I had other things before this.

Mmm I would have to read up more on e8 because they are obviously just doing the sales pitch instead of really giving any info away.

To the things I kinda do understand though, I don't mind the idea that the masses perception should be controlled to a degree, given that is the world we live in now. Obviously, that would be a hard sell to be like "Hey we will control you until you are able to truly think for yourselves." There might even be people now that do that but there are far more doing it for the wrong reasons, and they already have their own perception and then you end up with what they perceive is good is actually bad and a rabbit hole opens and swallows the world.

Now that I think of it e8 might just a hint in the right direction. The direction at our current state of being, unfortunately, might be infinite.

This comment is taking me very long must be the 8th iteration

I can understand the global connection as I feel the brain has so much power (literally) that if a big enough impact is made on someone they can transmit that to someone else, or even just to something which has that capacity and through this you find yourself having a day that just feels a bit off, feels like Wednesday but it is Thursday. It feels like there is something else you should be doing. If only you knew what and why you are feeling quieter, is it alive you should have been saving has that life now been lost. Is that final 5minutes of this oddly out of sync day where you take a smoke at the end and just look but don't think the final 5 minutes of your connection?

we can and should push for people to change their perception on many things in this world the things that are so evidently apparent to many but seemingly of no consequence to many more. I think that once we can do that and maybe with all the new data there is a way to just go hey look these are the facts these physical things you are bombing each other about is wrong. you as a country as a government as an individual inside an imaginary border you as the world need to first, conform and follow so that we as a species as a society may go beyond what we see.

Mmm I would have to read up more on e8 because they are obviously just doing the sales pitch instead of really giving any info away.

Yes, that video was just a fluffy version of the work to make it more understandable and viewable for the general public ;) But there were some dots connected for me in that video and I find it very promising. I have a strong hunch they are on the right path.

Here's another dot to connect in relation to E8. The Golden Ratio (Phi) Emerges from E8 Golden Ratio

The problem with E8 is that it is in direct conflict with the work being done on string theory. E8 is also being independently studied outside of the 'controls' of mainstream science. So, in researching this further, you are going to run into a lot of this push back. A lot of noise.

I don't mind the idea that the masses perception should be controlled to a degree, given that is the world we live in now. Obviously, that would be a hard sell to be like "Hey we will control you until you are able to truly think for yourselves." There might even be people now that do that but there are far more doing it for the wrong reasons, and they already have their own perception and then you end up with what they perceive is good is actually bad and a rabbit hole opens and swallows the world.

In the perfect world, Pen. It's not a perfect world. There are people influencing perception that do not have our greatest good in mind. Then you have the scenario like the book, "The Giver" where society is controlled to keep things at an even keel - no highs or lows - everyone and everything is exactly the same, every day with no learning or innovation, no creativity or free thinking. Sure, there is no disease, there is no war or violence, there is no sadness...but there is only this grey world. I do believe that a lot of the bad going on in the world is due to social engineering and controlled perception. Maybe I'm too much of an idealist that I'm not being enough of a realist, but I think most people - given the opportunity - would choose a better world. There will always be those that want that control and power, but that's something that 'we' need to address within ourselves - why do we give away our power? Why do we fall for the division?

I can understand the global connection as I feel the brain has so much power (literally) that if a big enough impact is made on someone they can transmit that to someone else, or even just to something which has that capacity and through this you find yourself having a day that just feels a bit off, feels like Wednesday but it is Thursday. It feels like there is something else you should be doing. If only you knew what and why you are feeling quieter, is it alive you should have been saving has that life now been lost. Is that final 5minutes of this oddly out of sync day where you take a smoke at the end and just look but don't think the final 5 minutes of your connection?

Yes, I agree very much with this - we definitely impact each other every day. It matters.

As well, whether we feel connected or not....we are still connected. I think what you just described is just the process of trusting those feelings and following through. Trusting yourself to take that right turn when you always drive straight. I think we are delving into the spiritual here at the end....we are always connected IMO. Actions/inactions have consequences, but we remain connected whether we're aware or not. It just makes it a lot easier if we are paying attention.

we can and should push for people to change their perception on many things in this world the things that are so evidently apparent to many but seemingly of no consequence to many more. I think that once we can do that and maybe with all the new data there is a way to just go hey look these are the facts these physical things you are bombing each other about is wrong. you as a country as a government as an individual inside an imaginary border you as the world need to first, conform and follow so that we as a species as a society may go beyond what we see.

It is my experience that people's perceptions are their own and to force otherwise doesn't do anything. Now, I do think that being an example of that change or showing a different way is more effective in changing hearts and minds. And I think from a very young age, perceptions are formed. We need to determine what the problem is first so that we don't repeat it in the next generations.

I hope I understood your comments right and answered with some coherency back LOL

All important thoughts and thank you for taking so much time and energy to respond back. Always appreciated.

Yip you answered perfectly. Alas it is not a perfect world I will keep stumbring now :)\n\n!tipuvote 0.03

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