Choices
of Perception
Our
five senses are constantly bombarded by more stimuli than we
could ever consciously attend to. Therefore, we must filter
out most of what we perceive and only be aware of a small
portion of our total life experience. All that we have chosen
to ignore is then stored in our unconscious and
superconscious minds.
These "perceptual filters" are created by our beliefs,
because it is our beliefs that influence our expectations. In
turn, our expectations influence our perceptions. For
example, if we believe that the world is a hostile place, we
will expect to see an enemy around every corner. Then,
someone comes around that corner, a normal someone with a
vast and paradoxical range of thoughts and emotions.
Since we believe that the world is hostile, we expect to see
an angry threatening person. Therefore, we will be aware of
only the portions of that complex person that express anger.
We will filter out the portions that are kind and loving and
then "defend" ourselves in an angry fashion. With our fear
and anger we amplify the fear and anger in this stranger.
Voila! We have created an enemy, and we have also reaffirmed
our belief that the world is a hostile place.
On the other hand, let us say that our belief is that the
world is generally a loving place and that most people are of
good nature. Now, on the very same day, at the very same
time, we walk around the same corner and meet that same
complex person. Because we believe the world is generally a
loving place, we expect the approaching person to be
friendly. Therefore, we smile warmly and say hello.
Since we are warm and friendly, we amplify the portion of
this stranger that is also warm and friendly. Also, we expect
a friendly reply, so we filter out the portion of the person
that is frightened or angry and choose to perceive the
portion of the person that is warm. In this scenario, it is
likely that that person will respond in the same manner in
which he or she was addressed. Again, we have affirmed our
belief by our expectations and the perceptions arising from
those expectations.
Creation of Belief Filters
How were the beliefs that created our filters formed? Belief
filters are custom made based on a hierarchical system. In
other words, what is most important comes first. And, what is
most important of all is survival. Inherent in all species is
the fear for survival". Once this fear is activated, we will
create systems that provide a primary coping mechanism so
that we can survive.
For example, if you are a person who believes that the world
is a hostile place then you were likely raised in a
frightening environment. Your belief system was indeed
necessary for you to reach adulthood. In order to survive
early life, you learned to believe that everyone and
everything was a possible threat. Therefore, you expected an
enemy everywhere and constantly prepared for battle. The
external danger was then internalized and the battle
continued even though the war was over. Unfortunately, since
you are now creating a reality filled with your childhood
fear, the war is NOT over.
On the other hand, if you are a person who believes that the
world is a loving place you were likely raised in a safe and
caring environment. Or, perhaps you worked through your early
fear and anger and found a way to believe in love. Either
way, you learned to believe that the world is a loving place
or, at least, you learned to believe in the power of love.
Therefore, you are now able to filter out the surrounding
negativity and be aware of the positive.
The fact is, not many of us were able to come into adulthood
without some fear, anger, loss or pain. However, if we were
somehow able to find love, then we can use our past trauma to
recognize real "not perceived" danger so that we can protect
ourselves.
All of us are now experiencing, or have experienced, a
reality that was created for us by our families, our past,
and our society. These realities are based on beliefs that
were programmed into our consciousness. Some of these beliefs
have assisted us, but some of them have created great
limitations in our ability to expect and perceive the
positive and loving aspects of our third dimensional life
(see unconscious section). Our beliefs can be changed, but
habit is powerful. The reality that is familiar brings
comfort, even if it is painful. Therefore, how can we break
out of the habitual beliefs of the familiar and dare to step
into an unknown and unfamiliar reality?
Changing our Reality
To change our reality we must change our beliefs. We must
transmute our beliefs in fear and limitation into beliefs in
love and freedom. When our belief system is based on fear, we
feel separate from the world around us because our view is
that everyone and everything may try to harm us. However,
when we learn to believe in love we feel united with the
world. Everyone and everything can then be viewed as a new
opportunity to experience love.
Belief in fear and limitation creates a self-image of victim
hood, "The world is my enemy and I am its victim." On the
other hand, belief in love and freedom creates a self-image
of empowerment, "Somehow I created my reality and since I
created it, I can change it." It is in switching from "living
in fear" to "living in love" that we can alter the basis of
our belief systems. Only then can we begin to change the
reality that we experience. This change takes time and
experience, but if we can understand that our experiences are
lessons, we can begin our transformation from a dependent
victim to a dependable leader. This transformation has three
phases: "dependent," "independent," and "dependable."
Everyone moves through these stages of consciousness. Since
we are all complex people, we often move through these phases
more quickly in some areas of our life and more slowly in
others. Usually, it is in the areas of our life where we have
experienced love that we can transform quickly and the areas
that have caused us fear that transform more slowly.
Unfortunately, it is these fear-filled areas of our life that
often become our personal nemesis, and we return again and
again to address the same old issue in a new way.
Fortunately, we each have only a few of these "stuck" places.
These areas of our life are our greatest challenge yet they
also provide the greatest possibility for growth.
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