I have always been amazed by how two people can see the same exact thing, yet come away from what they observed with two entirely different impressions. In fact, you have probably heard the saying, “one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure,” suggesting that what one person values, another person sees as worthless. That’s a pretty dramatic difference in human perception, and, coincidentally, a very powerful therapeutic tool that can be used to improve mental health.
When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change
Sometimes in life we can take direct action toward a challenge that we encounter, like shoveling the driveway after a heavy snowfall, or fixing a meal when we are hungry. In these examples, not a lot of perception-management needs to take place, as you can simply pick up a shovel or throw together a sandwich without much thought. But what about other life challenges where you have little control, or no control at all? Unlike being able to take immediate, direct action, a new mental health approach is needed, one that relies more on how we perceive the challenge or situation. Fortunately, we have complete control over our perceptions, and cognitive-behavioral psychologists emphasize this reality in order to empower people for greater confidence, focus, and problem-solving skills.
For example, you might not be happy with something your neighbor has done to his house that you consider an eyesore. Obviously you can’t just go over and change what he has done, nor would it likely be a great idea to knock on his door and express your frustrations. What you can do, however, is modify the ways in which you view your neighbor and his house, and try and see through his eyes why he has chosen to do what he has done. In fact, when we step outside of how we view things, and in turn consider how someone else sees things through their eyes, we can often find better ways to handle our personal distress, thereby leading to improved mental health. When we change how we look at things, the things we look at change — and in this example we might take on a new appreciation for how a neighbor has decided to decorate his house.
Shakespeare once said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Our human perceptions are malleable, and they can be shifted, adjusted, and changed much easier than the efforts needed to always change the world around us. By learning how to modify perceptions, we become more empowered, more confident, and more likjely to experience future success and happiness — all leading to better mental health!
Final thoughts
Improved mental health relies heavily in both the ways in which we perceive situations, as well as the actions we take (or don’t take). When we change the ways in which we perceive events, we inevitably experience a different interaction and end result. Take a step back from the things most bugging you right now, and challenge yourself to view the problem/issue through an entirely different lens and see if you still feel the same. Chances are, with a new mindset you will experience new ideas, and a renewed confidence for a better day tomorrow.
drstankovich.com
