Perception or Reality?

“Too often we colour our perception with other peoples’ pencils.”

─ Tim Winter

It is a common saying that perception is reality but I believe that it is merely a subconscious expectation of reality.

The biggest example can be that of the realisation of a child that the glossy image of beauty and success that they have always been shown is in real just an image, an illusion, is a big shock. It’s almost like a betrayal. The child feels vulnerable and exposed. He may think to himself that he has been deeply surrounded by lies all his life. Huge lies. And yet, he has been taught not to lie, to be honest. And so, he starts seeing everything around him, which has always been there, in a different light.

I believe that people only see through themselves; only hear through the filter of their own story. But, with gradual learning, the passing of time and experience, it is possible to realize that life is only as good as one makes it. All their lives, people are so busy in conforming to accepted values and perceptions that they forget to make their own perception, and make it their own reality.