The Power of Perceptions
I have just revisited Stephen. R. Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and as always the book's message made me hold my breath for some time. In the chapter Inside-Out Covey talks about the power of perceptions. How the way we see governs the way we behave. And how our perceptions are formed by the years of conditioning we have been put through by the world around us. For any effective change to take place, Covey says, we must first change our perceptions. He also says that we cannot go very far in changing our seeing without simultaneously changing our being and vice versa. What we do will have have to also change to change the way we see things.
Covey talks about two ways of seeing, the way things are (the realities) and the way things should be (the values). When we describe something, we are actually describing ourselves. That is not the reality. And when someone disagrees, it is difficult to accept that they might be right. Covey says that we will have to be more open and ready to discuss the validity of our perceptions and keep them as subject to change.
About the way things should be, Covey says that there are a few human principles that are just as true as the the laws of gravity. None can claim to be in opposition to these laws and still hope to be effective. "It is impossible for us to break the law. we can only break ourselves against the law", so said Cecile De Mill, the maker of The Ten Commandments.
In order to really spark a change outside, we will have to explore our inside. We will need to see the roots of of our perceptions. Perhaps a paradigm shift is needed in the way we see things. Einstein was right when he said, "The significant problems in our life cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." The Psalmist proclaimed, "Search your heart, for out of it flows the issues of your life."
Covey doesn't believe in quick-fix techniques and psych-up talks. He believes that those are just superficial ways to deal with a problem that is deep. These are social band-aids and aspirins that leave the underlying problems unaddressed. Unless we really work on the foundations, our perceptions, principles and way of being, we can't hope to solve the problem. There is no short-cut. One will have to pay the price. He compares the quick fix method of positive thinking and working on attitude with someone who crams his way to school. He may get good grades but he won't really develop an educated mind or master his subjects unless he has actually worked his way through. No reaping without sowing. For effective change, we cannot skip the developmental process. If I am at level 2 in playing the piano and want to reach the level 5, I will have to first get to level 3. No matter how much I psych myself up, I can't beat a professional tennis player if I am still an amateur. I will have to work my way through, get to his level first.
Effective change isn't easy. But it is possible. And it starts with working on our perceptions.
Covey talks about two ways of seeing, the way things are (the realities) and the way things should be (the values). When we describe something, we are actually describing ourselves. That is not the reality. And when someone disagrees, it is difficult to accept that they might be right. Covey says that we will have to be more open and ready to discuss the validity of our perceptions and keep them as subject to change.
About the way things should be, Covey says that there are a few human principles that are just as true as the the laws of gravity. None can claim to be in opposition to these laws and still hope to be effective. "It is impossible for us to break the law. we can only break ourselves against the law", so said Cecile De Mill, the maker of The Ten Commandments.
In order to really spark a change outside, we will have to explore our inside. We will need to see the roots of of our perceptions. Perhaps a paradigm shift is needed in the way we see things. Einstein was right when he said, "The significant problems in our life cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." The Psalmist proclaimed, "Search your heart, for out of it flows the issues of your life."
Covey doesn't believe in quick-fix techniques and psych-up talks. He believes that those are just superficial ways to deal with a problem that is deep. These are social band-aids and aspirins that leave the underlying problems unaddressed. Unless we really work on the foundations, our perceptions, principles and way of being, we can't hope to solve the problem. There is no short-cut. One will have to pay the price. He compares the quick fix method of positive thinking and working on attitude with someone who crams his way to school. He may get good grades but he won't really develop an educated mind or master his subjects unless he has actually worked his way through. No reaping without sowing. For effective change, we cannot skip the developmental process. If I am at level 2 in playing the piano and want to reach the level 5, I will have to first get to level 3. No matter how much I psych myself up, I can't beat a professional tennis player if I am still an amateur. I will have to work my way through, get to his level first.
Effective change isn't easy. But it is possible. And it starts with working on our perceptions.
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