2.7
November 11, 2013

We Perceive As We Are. ~ Sara Rodriguez

We expend so much of our energy trying to stifle our personal touch, our own interpretation and understanding of the world around us.

We hope that, in doing so, we become legitimate—more believable—so that when we attempt to make a point, others can trust that our rationale comes from a place of stability, moderation, and objectiveness. If we can convince others that we are “level-headed,” we believe that they will listen more carefully and take us more seriously.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we strive for this neutral position in vain.

It is not within our human capabilities to be objective. The definition even says so: Objectiveness is achieved when we are “not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.”

We are human. We have feelings and opinions—always.

Try as we might to shave away the connotations and associations in our minds and hearts, we never truly succeed. Every experience we have, every thought that crosses our minds, every situation in which we are involved, every event we witness as either participants or passersby—none of them can be observed objectively.

Even in presenting “facts,” we are merely adopting someone else’s interpretation of what is fact. Somewhere along the way, a group or individual decided that something was true, and therefore labeled it as factual, a decision they/he/she made based on what was already known, all of which depends on the interpretation—rather, the subjective understanding of what is.

Besides, even if we are not involved in a particular situation, we still react to it or interpret it as the people we are.

That’s exactly why nothing we perceive can be objective: We perceive as we are, and who we are informs how we perceive what we encounter.

Life only happens subjectively, “based on influence by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.”

Objectiveness, by definition, is independent of the mind. If we humans attempt to be objective with the very organ that undermines its potential for existence, then there is no way to be objective.

On the other hand, subjectiveness is “dependent on the mind or on an individual’s perception for its existence.” So there we have it—our perception is how we create reality. Reality depends on our minds; objectiveness does not.

Life is subjective.

Yes, that includes everything I just wrote: This is all based on my own understanding, opinions, and interpretations. This whole article is entirely subjective. I will not claim my ideas to be factual, nor will I say that they are false. This is all here for others to interpret, subjectively.

We have every reason to love and wholly accept the personal touch with which we perceive our lives; it is something that only we as individuals can offer to the rest of the world, and if none of us can truly analyze or understand objectively, then what do we have to lose in making our voices heard?

Someone will hear us; people will listen, and they will listen subjectively, because that’s all we can do.

And that’s a good thing.

 

Like the mindful life on Facebook.

 

Editor: Dana Gornall

Read 4 Comments and Reply
X

Read 4 comments and reply

Reply to Sara Bex cancel

Top Contributors Latest

Sara Rodriguez  |  Contribution: 8,300