Perceptions matter: Buddha’s Desire

Often, we are worried about how others think of us, or how they would perceive something we tell them. I’m occasionally prompted to double-check my perception — the way I look at the world. Because perception is how you make sense of the information around you. By the way, I wanted to let you know that this article has nothing to do with Buddha. I just framed the title so because I used his name in an example.

Let’s come back to where we took a pause. Regardless of reality, your perception of anything is determined by your mental impression of it. Sometimes, the reality is not as essential as perception. It matters more whether someone believes something to be true than if it is true in reality. Reality is sometimes (not all times) a purely perceptual experience. We act, based on what we perceive. In other words, we construct our own realities based on perceptions and believe what we consider to be true.

When it comes to perception, no one sees eye to eye. No one is on the same page. Nobody has the same perspective on things. Each perception is unique. For example, let us consider Buddha. Buddha insists that the end of desire is the end of sorrow. Buddha may have sought to let up of desire, according to some. Can I also state that the Buddha desired to put an end to desires? If stated so, isn’t that a desire again? If we ask questions like this, there are answers, so many. But nothing is correct. Because there exists not a right answer. All answers are okay. All answers are acceptable.

Okay, so what is this all about? Fine-tuning perceptions, maybe. Good human perception skills are critical for conversation quality and positive outcomes. In addition, it is equally important how you perceive yourself. It makes you who you are. We are constantly sensing things, even though we don’t usually spend much time thinking about them. Take a look back at your life. Recall the times when you faced a lot of struggles. You have got through that phase, didn’t you? Give yourself the credit for how you persevered. The secret to improving our views, attitudes, and going forward is to acknowledge that we are constantly evolving, and growing. Every time we encounter a challenging situation, we pick up a new skill and get stronger. If we have a favorable self-perception, we are more likely to have positive opinions and views about the world in general, which can lead to more prevalent positive outcomes. Think good of yourself. Because you are.

I hope you’ll accompany me in reconsidering self-perceptions and improving lives : )