"People only see what they are prepared to see." Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this article I provide some reflections on Emerson’s quote and offer a number of tips you can use in your own life. The overall theme is about our individual awareness and perception of the world.

This quote, to me, is about perception and how people see the world around them. Essentially, people only see what they are ready and willing to. As such, people are sometimes prepared only to see the worst – whether it is in regards to themselves or other people. They focus on the negative, conveniently ignoring the positive.

Sometimes people may choose to ignore certain evidence as it does not suit them. This can be problematic. Not only can it mean a person continues to engage in particular behaviours (for example, a smoker who ignores the health risks, therefore does not see their behaviour as a concern) but it can have wider consequences also. For instance, such attitudes can keep prejudice in place, as stereotypes are upheld and the evidence that defies them is disregarded.

Differing perceptions

As we go through life, we experience different things and develop particular attitudes. It is not surprising then that people will perceive the same situation differently, as a result of their life experiences. Let me give you an example, using a set of steps as the common theme.

Imagine you had spent the day at a disability awareness course. For the first time you came to realise what an obstacle steps are to a person in a wheelchair. On your way home, you climb the same set of steps as you always do, but this time you see them differently. You wonder where the ramp is, reflecting that maybe the building is inaccessible to a wheelchair user, unless they are to be carried in.

Now imagine these steps again. You’ve just been reading about all the things you can do to keep fit. One of these things is to use the steps rather than the lift. You get home, and see the steps. You realise they are an opportunity to help you get fit and you decide to run up them.

Here are those steps again. This time, you work at a stadium cleaning up after the crowd has been and gone. All day you are going up and down the steps, cleaning up other people’s rubbish. By the time you get home you are fed up and tired. You come to the steps that take you to your house. You greet them with a groan, hardly having the energy to climb them and remembering the long day you have had.

Now for one last scenario. Last week it was raining and the steps outside your house were slippery and you fell down them. You sprained your ankle and are very shaken up. You spend a few days recovering. Today you go to leave the house and are faced with the steps. You feel anxious, remembering your pain and stress. You nervously approach the steps and take them one step at a time, being careful not to slip.

Note how the set of steps has not changed, yet how you perceive them has.

Tips

Based on the quote and my reflections, I have some tips that may be useful:

• Try looking at objects, events and people from a new perspective. Such an exercise can help increase your awareness of the world around you.

• Don’t believe the stereotypes or all you see on the television. Open your eyes to the world around you to see what’s really going on.

• Question what you see and hear.

• Rather than judging a person, step into their shoes and imagine you are them. Remember, they do not have your experiences; they have their own and as such will see the world differently.

• Stop making assumptions.

• Finally, think of this as an opportunity to think positive. If you are prepared to see the positive in all that is around you, then positive is what you will see.