Perception vs Perspective

Imagine for a second that we all walk through life wearing a pair of invisible glasses. These are the lenses with which we see the world. They shape what we see, how we interpret, judge, and what we believe. These glasses could be called our perception prism.

I see it as a prism because it’s a mental lens that bends everything around us. It’s constantly being shaped by our interactions with others, the things we read, the people we’ve met over the years, the tastes, smells, sounds of life for however long we have lived on this watery rock.

Two people could experience the exact same situation but refract it completely differently. Neither interpretation is necessarily right or wrong, but our inner filters bend and colour the truth to something we see.

Here’s the key. If we are blinded into thinking that our perception prism is the only one that exists, it turns into a perception prison. A prison that confines our thinking to just one reality: ours.

Can we stay open-minded?

The answer is definitively “yes”. Because if we consider our perception prism to be like invisible glasses, we can also consider taking them off.

Because there’s always a different angle. We might climb a little higher, look sideways, or even ask someone else what they see.

And that shift is perspective.

And it’s one of the most powerful components of resilience.

Perception is internal. It’s our automatic interpretation of what’s happening. It’s the story we tell ourself, without even realizing we’re telling it.

Someone cuts us off. The blood starts to boil.
The email reply from the boss is curt. Anxiety bubbles up.
The pitch gets get rejected. Uselessness knocks loud.

Our perception prism kicks in instantly and our minds work in overdrive. We start to think and feel negative thoughts. “Here we go again.”

But the powerful reframe is that perception isn’t truth. It’s simply our version of it.

And it’s quite possible that our prism is cracked.

Perspective, on the other hand, is our power to pivot.

Perspective is a conscious shift. It’s our choice to view the same situation from a different angle - whether that means zooming out, standing in someone else’s shoes, or reframing the story altogether.

It’s not always easy. But it is always possible.

It’s also important to note that, when it comes to perception prisms, everyone else has their own. So when someone is rude to us, they’re behaving in a way that matches their own mental lens that they’ve developed over time.

A classic fable

A curious student visited a Zen master, eager to learn the secrets of wisdom.

As the master welcomed him in, the student began to talk. He shared all he had read, heard, and believed. He spoke of philosophies, spiritual systems, and more. The master smiled politely and began pouring tea.

He poured.

And poured.

And kept pouring.

Soon, the tea overflowed the cup and spilled across the table. The scholar jumped back. “Stop! The cup is full. No more will fit!”

The master paused and looked up.
“Exactly,” he said. “Your mind is like this cup, already full. If you wish to learn, you must first empty your cup.”

Why this matters in life (and especially at work)

It’s easy to think we already know everything.

And if we’re in a meeting, and someone challenges our ideas, our perception prism might flare up. Depending on the lens that we’ve built, we may feel embarrassed, threatened, disregarded.

But we can flip it with a different perspective.

• Instead of feeling threatened, perhaps we appreciate how much they care. At least they’re engaged.

• Or maybe they’re under immense pressure.

• Or (wait for it), maybe they just have a different viewpoint and genuinely want what’s best for the org.

Same moment. Same words. Radically different outcome.

Especially in how we feel. (← read that again)

3 tools to shift from perception to perspective

1. Have a cup of tea. Literally or figuratively. Just like the cup mentioned above, our perception prism gets filled over time with opinions, assumptions, judgments etc. These filters aren’t wrong, but they can block us from seeing things as they really are. We sometimes need to pause, breathe, and approach the moment with a beginner’s mind. That means curiosity and open-mindedness. Let’s imagine we don’t know it all.

2. Pause to ask. I react all the time. And I study this stuff every single day. But the times when I can pause and ask myself whether this is fact, or is it just my filter….these are the times that make life a lot breezier. I have a clearer mind. I respond rather than react. I admit that it takes a lot of practice, but it’s necessary because a split-second might matter.

3. A chair swap. Mentally (or physically if you have a great company culture) switch chairs with the other person. This literally helps our minds adjust to consider their perspective. Empathy is the great team-building superpower. It’s a huge benefit when we connect with colleagues at the next level.

Perception is the default and perspective takes work. It takes curiosity, humility, and the willingness to admit that there is another angle.

The people who handle hard better aren’t the ones with perfect perception. They’re the ones who climb a little higher to see what the view looks like up there.

So next time our prism flares up, fogged by emotion or fear, remember that we might just need a fresh angle.

Keep climbing and stay resilient friends,

Carre @ Resilient Minds

PS - one more push for filling in my survey about resilience please. Takes 2 mins tops and it will really help me build better programs for orgs. If you’ve filled it in already, thank you. If you can forward to a close friend or family member, I would really appreciate it. Link is here → 2-min resilience survey