“Research from across the globe has indicated that two individuals in the exact same situation and external world can have two completed different perceptions of the world that are both EQUALLY true!”
Think about the many conflicts that exist in your day-to-day life. The barista getting your order wrong, your friend upset that you missed a planned lunch, your boss berating you over a presentation with a deadline that you disagreed with, your partner in tears over you not agreeing with their point of view. Often, it can drive one to think, “Are we all existing on the same planet?”
When reading Before Happiness by Shawn Achor, I connected with the following, “Research from across the globe has indicated that two individuals in the exact same situation and external world can have two completed different perceptions of the world that are both EQUALLY true!” It connects with me, cuz a) I like that research backs it up and b) because I often feel like I’m the only one that thinks/feels the way that I do. Now I know that I do and so do you and you and you…
Family get togethers have often led to arguments over petty items; such as, who got more spent on them, how a memory played out, and if one person agrees with you then everyone else must be wrong. What we forgot about is that we are all unique individuals existing in a world created of our own. We all hear words that we want and filter out those that we don’t. We focus on objects in a room that others may not. We have layers of feelings and thoughts that allow only particular one’s in. How do we possible think that anybody else could share a similar moment as ours?
Once I started noticing this, it led me to be a bit calmer around family. There are still landmines that can be triggered, but I try to recognize that attempting to convince them of my point of view isn’t the right path. I can share that I feel that my memory differs, but that there’s can also be correct.
Taking this attitude into the rest of the world is very helpful too. I can calmly explain to the barista that I apologize if I didn’t communicate my order properly; however, I would like it a different way. I can suggest that in future we text to confirm lunch dates to ensure that one is not left sitting alone at a restaurant. I can email deadlines with my boss and then show him when he asked for the project to be done, and finally, I can show patience and compassion for my partner in tears over a miscommunication on both our parts (or even just mine).
Knowing that we each exist in our own worlds can seem slightly isolating, but I find it fascinating. When someone differs with me on a situation, it’s an opportunity to figure out how they process the world in their own unique way.
Knowing now that “Research from across the globe has indicated that two individuals in the exact same situation and external world can have two completed different perceptions of the world that are both EQUALLY true!”, how will you approach others today?
