I know it’s spring, so then why am I showing you a decoration, well…this particular decoration made me chuckle at the time. Look at the face again, then tell me what you see.
Symbolism, long held beliefs, impressions, perceptions – words that we are all familiar with, but we often hope that what we understand by these concepts is shared by the people around us.
Today I spoke to a client about this very topic – perception and points of view and it was interesting to notice how in their lives much of the conflict arises from the very fact that their own viewpoints differ from that of their family, and yet they were struggling to gain insight. Of course, in order to be able to communicate with another a shared language is used, that means shared codes, shared sense of humour, shared experiences, something that makes me experience the world the same way as you do. For some of us if we use similar words either makes us see the same way, or makes us hear the same way as you, or maybe get what you are about, or even feel you. However we consider this topic, some form of shared code needs to be used. And of course, the moment that shared experience is broken due to distance or events, communication breaks down.
If we take an even simpler example “then” is not the same as “than”, “bear” is not the same as “bare”, “see” is not the same as “sea” nor is “plain” the same as “plane”. And yet we assume that what I see and what you see is the same, they sound the same but may be different.
So, the natural question for today would be, how many times what you say and what others hear is different? How often do you say something and assume the other has understood what you said? How often do you hope for the other to read between the lines? How often are you precise in your language enough for the other to understand the meaning? How many times do you rely on the other to make sense of what you are conveying?
For us to decode something we have to have the right cipher, just like a few weeks ago we spoke of the enigma machine, in the same way for us to be understood we need the right sequence of symbols so that we have a shared meaning.
So, is it Mary or Jon? For Christmas is actually Saturnalia, but who is right anyway, right?!
Time to take out your diary and take some notes when answering the questions.
Conscious Mentorship
If you would like to explore thing further, why not book with me and allow me to help you find your path to self.
