Shifting Perceptions for Success – Through The Looking Glass

Are Your Perceptions Helping You?

Inspired by this Club House room – Through The Looking Glass. Click here for Replay

We have a tendency to look at life from our own perspective, interpreting events based on our own beliefs and assumptions. But what if our perspective is limited, what if the looking glass we use to see the world is flawed? In this article, we will explore how changing our perceptions can lead to changes in our outlook and achievements, and how philosophical and psychological coaching can help us achieve this.

The Looking Glass:

In the novel ‘Through the Looking Glass’, Alice finds herself transported to a strange world where everything is reversed. The concept of a looking glass is central to the story as Alice’s reflection becomes her guide to navigate through the bizarre and unfamiliar world.

Similarly, in our own lives, we have our own ‘looking glass’ through which we view the world. This looking glass is made up of our experiences, beliefs, and assumptions, which influence our perceptions and shape our reality. However, what if this looking glass is distorted? What if our perceptions are not accurate representations of reality?

The Power of Perception:

Perception plays a crucial role in shaping our reality. Our perceptions can influence our thoughts, emotions, and behavior, leading to changes in our outlook and achievements. For example, if we perceive a situation as challenging, we may feel anxious and overwhelmed, leading to a negative outlook and lower achievements. On the other hand, if we perceive the same situation as an opportunity for growth, we may feel motivated and confident, leading to a positive outlook and higher achievements.

Changing Our Perception:

Changing our perception is not an easy task, as it requires us to challenge our beliefs and assumptions, and adopt a new way of thinking. However, with the help of philosophical and psychological coaching, we can learn to change our perception and improve our outlook and achievements.

Philosophical Coaching:

Philosophical coaching is a form of coaching that draws on philosophical concepts and principles to help individuals achieve their goals and improve their lives. Philosophical coaching can help us challenge our beliefs and assumptions and adopt a more objective and rational way of thinking. Through philosophical coaching, we can learn to question our perceptions and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Psychological Coaching:

Psychological coaching is a form of coaching that draws on psychological theories and techniques to help individuals achieve their goals and improve their lives. Psychological coaching can help us identify and overcome limiting beliefs and behaviors that may be holding us back. Through psychological coaching, we can learn to develop new habits and thought patterns that support our goals and aspirations.

Techniques for Changing Our Perception:

There are several techniques that we can use to change our perception and improve our outlook and achievements. Some of these techniques include:

Reframing:

Reframing is a technique that involves looking at a situation from a different perspective. By reframing a situation, we can change our perception and adopt a more positive outlook. For example, if we perceive a situation as a failure, we can reframe it as a learning opportunity and focus on what we can learn from the experience.

Visualisation:

Visualisation is a technique that involves creating a mental image of a desired outcome. By visualising our goals, we can change our perception and develop a more positive outlook. Visualisation can also help us stay motivated and focused on our goals.

Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a technique that involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, we can become more aware of our thoughts and emotions and develop a more objective and rational way of thinking. Mindfulness can also help us reduce stress and anxiety, leading to a more positive outlook.

The Role of Our Perception

Our perception plays a crucial role in shaping our reality. By changing our perception, we can improve our outlook and achievements, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. Through philosophical and psychological coaching, we can learn to challenge our beliefs and assumptions and adopt new ways of thinking. Techniques such as reframing, visualisation, and mindfulness can help us change our perception and develop a more positive outlook.

It’s important to remember that changing our perception is not a one-time event. It’s a continuous process that requires practice and patience. It’s also important to seek support from a coach, therapist or friends who can provide guidance and accountability throughout the journey.

It’s up to us to choose how we view the world. We can choose to see it through a distorted looking glass that limits our potential, or we can choose to see it through a clear and objective lens that opens up new possibilities. The choice is ours, and with the help of coaching and a commitment to personal growth, we can achieve great things.

Changing Perceptions

By changing our perception, we can improve our relationships with others. When we view situations from a different perspective, we can gain a better understanding of other people’s perspectives and develop more empathy and compassion. This can lead to more fulfilling and positive interactions with others, which can in turn improve our overall well-being.

It’s important to remember that changing our perception does not mean denying reality or avoiding difficult emotions. It means acknowledging and accepting reality while also recognising the role that our perceptions play in shaping our experiences. By changing our perception, we can learn to approach difficult situations with a more positive and constructive mindset, leading to better outcomes and increased personal growth.

The idea that our perception shapes our reality is not a new concept. Philosophers and psychologists alike have explored the concept of perception for centuries, and their findings suggest that our perception plays a significant role in shaping our experiences and behavior.

How Can We Create Change?

This is where a growth mindset can help us challenge our beliefs and assumptions, and provide us with tools and techniques to change our perception and adopt new ways of thinking. By actively seeking out new perspectives and learning new things we can change how we react, respond, think, feel and act.

Reframing

One such technique is reframing, which involves looking at a situation from a different perspective in order to gain a more balanced and constructive understanding of it. By reframing a situation, we can change our perception of it, and in turn, change our behavior and outcomes.

Visualisation

Another technique is visualisation, which involves imagining a desired outcome in order to make it more real and tangible. By visualising success, we can change our perception of what is possible and develop a more positive outlook, which can lead to increased motivation and action towards achieving our goals.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is also an important tool in changing our perception. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, and develop a more objective understanding of our experiences. This can help us become more aware of our biases and assumptions, and develop a more balanced and constructive perspective.

Ultimately, the process of changing our perception is a continuous one that requires practice and patience. A coach or therapist can provide guidance and accountability throughout this journey, helping us to stay focused and committed to our personal growth. By changing our perception, we can open up new possibilities and achieve greater success and fulfillment in our lives.

Benefits of Changing Our View

In addition to improving our personal well-being, changing our perception can also have a positive impact on our relationships with others. When we change our perception, we can gain a better understanding of other people’s perspectives and develop more empathy and compassion. This can lead to more positive and fulfilling interactions with others, and can even help to resolve conflicts.

For example, if we find ourselves in a disagreement with someone, our initial perception of the situation may be influenced by our emotions and biases, leading us to view the other person as unreasonable or unfair. However, by changing our perception and trying to understand the other person’s point of view, we can develop a more empathetic and constructive approach to resolving the conflict.

By changing our perception, we can also improve our ability to communicate effectively with others. When we approach conversations with an open and constructive mindset, we are more likely to listen actively, ask questions, and express ourselves clearly and respectfully. This can lead to more productive and positive interactions with others, and can help to build stronger and more fulfilling relationships.

Moving Forwards

The concept of the looking glass in ‘Through the Looking Glass’ highlights the importance of perception in shaping our reality. By changing our perception through coaching and using techniques such as reframing, visualisation, and mindfulness, we can improve our outlook and achievements, as well as our relationships with others. This is a continuous process that requires practice and patience, but with a commitment to personal growth, we can achieve great things and live a more fulfilling life.