YOUR REALITY IS NOT REAL (NOR IS MINE): PART III

In part 1 & part 2 of this series, we explored the McGurk effect and how our senses can distort our reality. Here, we explore why that is a critical factor in whether we succeed or fail.

As humans, we use our brains to interpret reality. In other words, what we think is real is merely our version of what’s going on. It’s not what’s actually going on. That’s why you probably heard things that weren’t there in part 1.

How Our “Realities” May Keep Us From Succeeding

Most of us have areas in our lives where we’re not doing as well as we’d like. If you’re a hypnotherapist or NLP practitioner, you have people coming to see you who’d like to do better in some area of their lives. So, why do people get “stuck” and how do we help them (and ourselves)?

In my experience, the way people interpret reality plays a big role in whether or not they’re stuck. In short, where we’re stuck is where we probably have rigid belief systems, limited perspectives and few choices in behavior. Where you are flexible you are less likely to have problems. It makes sense, right? You’re more likely to have problems in a situation where you only have one perspective and one behavior. If there is a solution outside of that perspective you won’t see it. How do you “think outside the box” when the box is your entire reality?

Belief Systems and Reality

Our belief systems and what we’re paying attention to affect not only how we perceive reality but what of reality we perceive. We can miss important information that could help us solve our problems if our belief systems are rigid and inflexible.

Our beliefs filter our senses which control what we perceive. Our beliefs can create blind spots.

Often, our job as therapists is to help clients experience broader perspectives from which they can sense more options, find their own solutions and embrace them. As people that want to succeed ourselves, it makes sense for us to broaden our perspectives too.