Your perception might be hurting you
Our evolution has us disliking change and preferring predictability and control; it's how we stayed alive. There are primarily two ways we can perceive change.
I recently watched one of those corny Christmas romantic movies, the Hallmark type. Yes, I do watch those, and no, I wasn't forced to watch it; I enjoy these, at least some of them.
I can't remember which one I heard this from, but it stuck with me.
Change can be hard, but it always leads to new beginnings.
Our evolution has us disliking change and preferring predictability and control; it's how we stayed alive.
In a post by the Neuroleadership Institute, they talked about how our perception determines our experience. There are primarily two ways we can perceive change.
The first is by perceiving it as a threat. We view what is being asked of us as too great for our capabilities. When we do, we respond to change in distress; we experience anxiety and fear.
The second is perceiving it as a challenge. An opportunity to learn something new, to develop in ways we haven't before. When we view change as something we can tackle within our capabilities, we experience eustress instead.
Our perception, the way we look at ourselves, others, and the world, is powerful; it can impact us physically, mentally and emotionally.
The perception we have about different circumstances is a bi-product of what we've learned about ourselves. If we perceive ourselves as unable to tackle a challenge, we are more likely to experience stress and anxiety.
What we have to do is challenge ourselves to think differently; be willing to develop new perspectives. It's simple, but not easy.
The alternative is accepting that how we experience change, and our perception of it is out of our control. We all know now from the science on emotions that this would be a lie. You can read more about it in the good news about emotions.
Humanity hasn't survived by perceiving it wasn't able to adapt; it survived by challenging itself and developing new capabilities. Is there an area of your life where you could benefit from looking at change differently?
It's important to note that none of this information intends to nullify anyone's experience. It's only meant to offer new perspectives, new ways of looking at ourselves and our experiences.
Quote of the week
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity
From Sun-Tzu, in A Arte da Guerra
Miguel,
Sparknotion – Think Differently.