Perception is Reality

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we delve into the difference between perspective and perception and how they shape our understanding and interactions. We explore how these concepts influence ministry and personal growth, using practical examples and historical references. This discussion highlights the importance of being aware of our own perceptions and the perceptions others may have of us.

**Key Insights:**

1. **Distinguishing Perspective and Perception:**
   - **Perspective**: How you see the world based on your experiences, feelings, ideas, and biases. It's like wearing glasses that shape your view.
   - **Perception**: How your brain interprets what you see, hear, and feel. It’s about understanding and interpreting the world around you.

2. **Practical Example of Humor:**
   - Different types of humor illustrate the difference between perspective and perception. Your sense of humor is your perspective, while your reaction to a funny event is your perception.

3. **Historical Context:**
   - Immanuel Kant and Plato discussed how perceptions shape our understanding of reality.
   - Political strategist Lee Atwater emphasized managing public perception in politics, underscoring the idea that perception often outweighs truth.

4. **Biblical Reference:**
   - Second Corinthians 3:2 discusses how lives are like open books read by all men, stressing the importance of how others perceive us.

5. **Ministry Application:**
   - Ministers must be aware that their actions and words influence others' perceptions.
   - Even if we cannot control others' perceptions, we can strive to present ourselves in a way that fosters positive perceptions.

6. **Personal Responsibility:**
   - Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own perceptions.
   - It's essential to heal from past experiences and allow God to change our perspectives and perceptions.

7. **Proverbs 18:2 Insight:**
   - The verse highlights the folly of not seeking understanding and only expressing opinions.
   - Encourages letting God change our perception to align with His reality rather than being confined by life's circumstances.

**Recommendations:**
- Reflect on your own perspective and perception. Are they aligned with your values and beliefs?
- Consider how your actions and words might influence others’ perceptions of you.
- Engage in self-reflection and seek personal growth through healing and spiritual guidance.
- Listen to similar episodes that discuss personal development and spiritual growth, such as "Renewing Your Mind" and "Transformative Faith."

By understanding the nuances between perspective and perception, we can better navigate our interactions and foster a more positive and meaningful impact in our lives and ministries.

Transcript

Episode 23
 Today's episode is titled perception is reality.  We're going to talk about the difference between perspective and perception, the things that affect it and influence it,  and then the impact it can have on your ministry.  You ready?  Let's get started. 

Perception and perspective  are not the same thing, but you wouldn't know that listening to the way we talk about it, we'll throw either word in there and we don't really understand which either one means.  We use perspective talking about a picture  can have different  things inside of it.

One person can see an old lady and another person will see a young lady. And we'll call that a difference in perspective, but that's not perspective. That's perception.  Your perception told you, you saw an old lady, your perception told you, you saw a young lady.  That's not perspective, 

so let's, let's go a little deeper into it.  Perspective is like wearing glasses.  It is how you see the world,  but it's based on your experiences, your feelings, and your ideas, and your biases.  Just like wearing glasses can change how you see things,  your perspective changes how you see things. 

So what is perception? Perception is how your brain understands what you see, hear, and feel.  It's like when you see a puzzle and you try to figure out what that picture is, that's perception I was telling you about. Your brain uses clues to understand what's happening around you.  Let me give you a really good practical example.

Humor, okay? Imagine you and a friend, and you have two different types of humor.  You love jokes, you love silly things, you love being sarcastic.  That's your perspective.  Your friend, Might not have that sense of humor and they may not laugh at much because they don't have a sense of humor. They're more serious.

That's their perspective,  two different perspectives, but let's say while you're hanging out together, you both witness someone innocently falling,  you both see the same thing happen. You  might find it super funny because that's your style of humor. You may have laughed at the face they were making  when they landed.

It just may have tickled you.  But your other friend may not have laughed at all because they don't find that funny at all.  That is perception.  Your perspective was your sense of humor and your perception was how you interpreted that event.  That's what we're going to talk about today. Your perspective is your point of view and your perception is how you understand things based on that point of view. 

Now to my title, perception is reality.  That's not a new thing. That's an age old philosophy. Immanuel Kant and Plato used to study the idea that our perceptions shape our understanding of reality.  Political strategist, Lee Atwater used it heavily to aid president Ronald Reagan and vice president George HW Bush in the eighties,  he stressed the importance of managing the public's perception in politics because he believed  that their perception mattered more than, than the truth come election time. 

That may sound dirty, but he's right.  When we all go to those polls,  we're not necessarily voting on what is accurate.  We're voting based on what we perceived.  You know, we perceive one president is such and such at the same time. Someone else can see that same president and perceive them in another way. 

The facts are really irrelevant.  It's our perception  that determines our reality.  Second Corinthians three and two says ye are an epistle. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.  That verse gets my nerves a little bit. Not the verse, but people's use of it.  It's often used out of context, mind you, to go with the thought that our lives are as open books. 

Okay, when people say that your lives are as open books are referring to that scripture there.  That's not what Paul was saying He was talking to the to a particular group of people Okay,  but  I cannot deny the principle that he applied so if the Church of Corinth could be read  And that's who he was talking to.

The church was his epistle written in his hearts. And if they could be read, then yeah, you too can be read.  So when people read you, they're going to look at you from all kinds of perspectives.  Some are serious people reading you. Some are  sarcastic people reading you.  Some are dramatic people reading you. 

It's all their perspectives, but what perception will they leave with?  That is what, what matters because perception is reality. And we have to be careful with that. If we give them a reason to perceive us as a jerk,  then it doesn't matter how nice you really are. Perception is reality. If they perceive you as a jerk, then in their world, you're a jerk. 

Now we're not totally responsible for people's perceptions.  Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own perception. I don't care what happened to you as a child. I'm sorry if you have some horrible, dramatic experience, but you are still accountable for your perception. It may be understandable, you're responsible for it. 

 That's your business.  But we, as ministers, we have to remember that perception is reality.  Again, if they perceive you in some negative way,  then it don't matter what you say from that pulpit,  because they're hearing their reality and they're seeing their reality.  So what part.

is on us,  how we influence that, how we change their perspective, the things we say, the things we do,  why do they, why do they perceive us that way?  What changed their perspective or what can change their perspective so that you have a positive perception?  I'm telling you this in caution, but we need to understand that.

You don't have full control over it. I saw a quote, I use it a lot you don't get to narrate someone else's story of you,  meaning you can do your best. You can do everything according to what you feel is right, but you have no control  over what that person ultimately perceives.

And when they are not around you and they're telling a story. Not talking trash, not spreading gossip, but revealing their reality. You have no more control over that. You've already made your impact, your  influence on their perspective. And this is the perception they're left with for better or for worse.

You do not get to narrate their story.  So we need to make sure that we are giving off  and doing things that give them a good perspective. Like what? Well, we need to make sure that we ingest enough of this Bible that we get in and we devour it.

We put it in our souls. Why? Because we want to make sure that love is our main ingredient.  Sprinkled with some patience, a dash of forgiveness, some understanding. We want to make sure that we  flow out the fruits of the spirit  because  that's going to affect their  perspective, which is going to impact their perception. 

So what do we do with this information now,  since you can't control theirs? Well, you need to be considerate of theirs.  Everyone needs to be considerate of each other's perspectives.  And we also need to make sure that we don't confuse your opinions as facts,  just because you think something does not mean it really is. 

I get told all the time that what I say is not funny. Okay. I disagree. I think what I said was very funny.  I get blasted a lot from sensitive people  with red hair that live with me in this house.

I'm not going to name names.  They get upset about the jokes that I make.  And it's just two different perspectives.  But what caused those perspectives?  She has a reason. Oh, that person, I'm not going to use pronouns here.  It's hypothetical. That person has a reason that they are the way they are.  Well, so do I.

I've got a history that makes me the way that I am.  We need to be careful of what is influencing our perspective.  Is still playing a rudder in your life and controlling that direction.  We need to heal from the past. We need to let go of the bitterness. What we need to be careful of what is influencing it.

Why do you have a problem trusting people? Why are you worried about what everyone thinks of you? in an unhealthy way. Why are you that way? What builds your perspective? And we can control that.  We can let God come in and change things.  Proverbs 18 and 2 in the King James says, A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 

I'm going to read it to you again in the English Standard Version.  A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.  Man, don't that happen a lot? People talk, not for the sake of dialogue, but for the sake of being heard.  They don't care what you have to say. They just want to make sure that you understand what they have to say. 

Well, if perception is reality,  then we have to be careful about what we're putting out there,  their perspective.  If perception is reality, then you need to be willing to let God change your perception.  Let God change the things in your heart. 

That way you have the reality that he wants you to have.  And not the reality that life has left you with.  God is the changer of realities.  I used to tell the  inmates at Varner, your circumstances do not change your reality,  but your reality can change your circumstances.  Now the quote fits, but the illustration, the illustration I was making does not fit this subject, but I'll use it in a way that was for people who were justifying their crimes, but I was in this situation, but I was in that situation. 

That's your circumstance. And it does not change reality that a sin is a sin. It does not change the reality that  maybe your family needed you more than you thought you needed that.  But if you would hang on to that reality, that God is still God.  Well, now that's going to change your circumstances. You're not as desperate as you thought you were.

You're not as outcast and you, you have hope.  Well, that, that does, I can tie that back in here. So going back to letting God change your perception,  don't let your circumstances speak for you.  Let God speak for you and it'll change your circumstances.  God can change your perspective  and that will change your perception. 

So this, the point of this podcast is twofold. Watch your perspective  and perception and be aware  of what you're causing from someone else on their perspective in their perception.  Because perception is reality.  God bless. Love you.