You see a good looking guy or gal, well dressed, visibly monetarily well off, muscular, good figure, confident stride, etc etc.
Those are your initial perceptions. Next comes your labeling process. He/she is successful, that coat must cost $1,000, he/she has all the things I want, why doesn't my body look like that, I work out. why can't my life be like that etc etc. Next come the judgements; he/she...what a bitch, well I just don't have those genetics, her parents probably have money etc etc.
It happens to a lot of people I know and I always tell them that they end up missing a lot of what is really going on and shutting themselves out of experiences and potential opportunities.
So next time your mind takes this route, try this.
Recognize and catch yourself doing it and then change the process.
First let your perception change to just plain observation. Now as you are just observing, there is no need to label. And when there is no label, you won't form a judgement and you can just be present and open to whatever comes your way. (I will be talking some more about this over the coming week.)
So take a look at my breakfast;
what's your initial perception? That doesn't look too appetizing? (perception) What is the orange blobbish stuff, it looks gross (label) I could never eat that! (judgement). My co-worker and FRIEND actually gagged when she saw this on my desk. Turkey salad, turkey, cucumber, tomato, scallion and mayo. Left over mashed sweet potato and turkey. I can promise you had my friend not immediately perceived, labelled and judged, I would have been able to give her a taste, and she would have thoroughly enjoyed it.....or not and then decide not have it again. Instead she shut herself out of the experience.
What do you think? Do you ever catch yourself in that process?
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5 comments:
no.
finally.
took me a while to get here though as I definitely assumed MANY THINGS by people's 'covers' in my younger days and, not surprisingly, as usually incorrect.
the food thing? my husband makes those blanket assumptions every day (complete with requisite gag :))
Oh contraire Mark. My first impression was "That looks delicious"... and then after reading what it was, it upgraded to "Wow, I want some now!".
The SoG
MIZ,
Funny right...How they are mostly incorrect.
SOG,
Thanks man!! Then again you like the good stuuf like me ;-)
Marc
Funny cuz I had no idea what to expect from reading the start of your post. But then when I read and scrolled down..I admit..I too was judgemental by the pics but as you know, would gladly eat it and it doesnt disgust me at all. I think your preface is what kinda fooled me!! WEIRD!
Oh and I dunno if that makes any sense at all!
And have you tried this yogurt yet?
http://bufaladivermont.com/
its awesome IMHO
Well - it sounds delicious, but ever since morning sickness kicked in, I'm not so sure I'd want to look at it in the morning, otherwise.... I'd mix stuff up just like that.
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