Look Inside – How Are Your Perceptions Doing Today?

As caregivers, we can be hypersensitive about perceptions. How do others perceive our loved one, and how do they perceive us? How do we perceive them, and how do we perceive ourselves? Our perceptions are the lenses through which we all view the world, and if negative perceptions are left unchallenged, whether they’re our own or someone else’s, they can lead to failure or heartache.

Managing perceptions is our topic this week, and it’s very important for us to learn how we can manage our own perceptions, as well others’ perceptions of us. This is not so easy to do because, ultimately, our perceptions represent our vision of the truth as we see it. Perceptions often are based on long-held, deep-seated beliefs, along with life experiences, values, culture, and personality. Family influences, social skills, and how we manage relationships can also have an impact on our perceptions. So it’s no surprise that changing perceptions can be a difficult task that takes time, effort, and a growth mindset that is open to new evidence and experiences.
 
How can we learn to manage perceptions? Here are a few suggestions:

• Reframe emotions, experiences, and responses to focus on the positive instead of the negative.

• Ask for feedback from a trusted friend or family member about how they see the situation. It is very difficult to be objective about ourselves and those we are closest to if we just have our own perceptions to rely on.

• Be open to suggestions, and make changes that will ease a difficult situation and help you grow. Start with small steps.

• Validate appropriate behavior, and challenge incorrect perceptions. Look for evidence that either supports or contradicts your view. Stand up for your view if you have evidence to support it, but be willing to change your view if the evidence is against it.

All of this requires introspection – the ability to look inside and honestly review our positive and negative traits. Introspection helps us learn more about ourselves and recognize when our behaviors and beliefs could benefit from change.
 
To change how others perceive us, we need to be willing to adapt our behavior, and to change our own perceptions, we need an open mind and a growth mindset. Learning to manage perceptions in this way is a process that takes time and practice, but it’s well worth the effort. My perception is that you do hard things every day, and YOU can do this, too.