What You Think Shapes How You Live
Perception Becomes the Prison.
Jenna had everything that should’ve made her feel proud — a stable job, a circle of close friends, and a life most would consider successful. But inside, she felt like she was constantly behind. Every compliment triggered doubt. Every achievement felt like a fluke. And the worst part? She had no idea why she felt that way.
One autumn morning, waiting in line for a coffee while wearing her favorite red wool cape, a child looked up at her, and said, “You look like a superhero.” It was innocent, but it hit deep. Jenna smiled, but inside something cracked open. Why could a child see her strength, when all she could think was weakness? That moment became the first thread she pulled in unraveling a much bigger truth: her perception — not her reality — was running the show.
Are You Stuck in the Emotional Loop?
We all think we’re seeing the world as it is. But in reality, we’re seeing the world through the lens of how we feel, our emotion. And often, what we feel is anything but the truth.
Here’s your trigger to watch for:
If your reactions are based more on what you assume than what you know, you’re being led by perception. For example — if someone cancels plans and your mind instantly goes to “they don’t value me” instead of “maybe something came up” — that’s perception, not reality, taking the wheel of your emotional mind.
The perception is your emotion. Emotions are very strong and subconscious. Emotions can hijack your perception without you even realizing it and making your decisions reflexive, rather than deliberate. What you need to do is bring that emotional, subconscious feeling to the surface so you can act upon it, replacing it with conscious, deliberate decisions.
Becoming aware of this filter is step one. Once you see it, you can shift it.
