Is Seeing Believing ?

Apparently not … Our Beliefs influence our perceptions.

Photo by Randy Jacob on Unsplash

Believing is Seeing.

The old adage seeing is believing needs to be revised.

Out expectations and our beliefs actually shape how we interpret the world.

It’s a common saying: “seeing is believing.” We tend to think of it as a sign of reality, that our beliefs are only as solid as what we can experience directly. However, new research is showing that this old adage is not entirely true. Instead of seeing informing our beliefs, it’s actually the other way around. Our beliefs and expectations shape how we interpret and make sense of the world we see in front of us.

This isn’t to say that we should jump to conclusions without solid evidence. Instead, it’s a reminder that our perspective has an impact on what we interpret.

For example, if someone has a belief that they are unlovable, they may tend to interpret things others say or do as meaning they are indeed unlovable. On the other hand, someone with the belief that they are lovable may interpret the same things as a sign that they are loved.

It’s also important to highlight the power of expectations.

If you expect something to happen, you may find yourself subconsciously looking for evidence that confirms it.

For example, if you expect a colleague to be rude, you may find yourself looking for evidence to confirm those expectations. In this case, it’s essential to recognize when your belief or expectations may be influencing your interpretation of the situation.

The bottom line is that our beliefs have a powerful impact on how we experience the world. We need to recognize this and take time to reflect on our expectations and beliefs, and how they shape our interpretations. This can help us remain more open-minded and lead to more accurate and meaningful interpretations. So, the new saying might be “believing is seeing.”

By doing this, we can start to gain a better understanding of the world around us and how we can best interact with it. Our beliefs may not be entirely accurate, but they often give us clues as to how we should respond to the world. It’s important to recognize that our beliefs are always evolving and that our interpretations of the world can change as we learn more and gain more insight.

As we progress, we need to be open to learning more and to recognizing that sometimes our perspective needs to shift in order to better understand reality. Once we accept that what we see is not necessarily what we believe, we can use our beliefs to shape and improve our interpretations of the world. Believing is seeing, and seeing is believing — both are essential components for us to learn and grow.

How our beliefs influence our perception

Beliefs are convictions about what we accept as true. They provide the fundamental framework that we use to understand and engage meaningfully with the world. - Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience

Our beliefs influence the way we seek out information. If we expect something to be true, we may find ourselves subconsciously looking for evidence that confirms our beliefs. This confirmation bias can be a powerful force that reinforces our existing beliefs and keeps us from seeing the full picture.

The brain is lazy and tris to avoid cognitive loading

Our beliefs can be like a kind of mental shortcut that helps us avoid the effort of having to think too much. Our brains like to take the path of least resistance, and this can lead us to rely on our beliefs to make quick decisions. This is known as cognitive loading.

Cognitive loading can lead us to overlook evidence that runs counter to our beliefs.

We may interpret facts or experiences in a way that supports our existing beliefs, which prevents us from seeing the bigger picture and learning more. This is why it’s important to be aware of our beliefs and to remain open to considering different perspectives and learning new information.

Our beliefs can change and evolve over time. We can use our beliefs to inform our decision-making, but we also need to be open to new information and different ways of thinking. By keeping an open mind, we can learn more and make more informed choices in the long run.

Beliefs are powerful, and they can shape our lives in both positive and negative ways. Being mindful of how our beliefs affect our perceptions and our decisions can help us make better, more informed choices.

Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing! You see things, not as they are, but as you are. - Eric Butterworth

Alan /|\

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