“Allow yourself to see what you don’t allow yourself to see.” —Milton H. Erickson, M.D.
Understanding Our Perceptual Filters
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) teaches us that our perception of the world is filtered by unconscious processes such as generalizations, deletions, and distortions. These filters help us manage the complexity of the information we receive, but they also often lead to errors in judgment. Here is how these mechanisms can affect our daily lives.
Generalizations are processes through which we extrapolate a general rule from specific experiences. While useful for creating mental patterns, they can lead to hasty conclusions or stereotypes.
Example 1: Imagine that you have had several negative experiences with clients in a particular industry. You may begin to believe that all clients in that industry are difficult to manage, influencing your approach to new clients and potentially compromising future business opportunities.
Example 2: If you had a bad experience with a type of food, you might generalize and decide never to try similar dishes again, depriving yourself of potentially enjoyable culinary experiences.
Cancellations occur when we ignore or remove information that does not fit our worldview. This can lead us to see only a part of reality, often one that confirms our pre-existing beliefs.
Example 3:When someone says that a person is very difficult to deal with, you might ignore all the positive information about them and focus only on the negative aspects, reinforcing a bias that may be unfounded.
Example 4: In a group project, you might ignore a colleague’s ideas because they do not fit your vision of the project, thus missing out on potentially innovative contributions.
Distortionsare interpretations of information that make it conform to our expectations or fears. This can lead to distorted perceptions of reality.
Example 5: Imagine receiving critical feedback from a supervisor. If you fear that you are not competent enough, you may distort the feedback, seeing it as a confirmation of your incompetence rather than as an opportunity to improve.
Example 6: If you hear an indirect compliment, you may distort it by thinking that it is just politeness and not genuine appreciation, devaluing the recognition you have received.
Concluding:
Being aware of how generalizations, deletions, and distortions influence our perception can help us live a more balanced and authentic life. Let’s try to question our filters and try to see the world with new and less conditioned eyes. Only in this way can we reduce errors in judgment and open ourselves to new possibilities.
Next time you find yourself making a generalization, deleting information, or distorting reality, stop and think: what other perspectives could there be? Take a moment to look at the situation from different angles, ask other people’s opinions, and try to imagine alternative explanations. These simple steps can help you overcome your perceptual filters and gain a more complete and accurate view of reality.
Together, we can learn to recognize our perceptual filters and improve our understanding of the world. Your story may inspire others to do the same! Join the conversation and let us know how you are working to see reality with new and less conditioned eyes.
Take notes on the journey…