Perception: How We See Things

The image below usually appears to be that of a vase for flowers, or some identify is as an outdoor birdbath.

Or is it two people facing each other?

‘Nothing is good, nothing is bad; our thinking makes them so’-Williams Shakespeare

I

 went for a youth meeting on the 10^th of June 2012 which was scheduled for 1:00pm prompt. I and my fellow delegate made sure we did all we could so as to meet up with the set time. Because where the meeting venue was fixed was quite far; we left our homes at about 12:00pm. When we finally got to the venue somewhere inside Ajao Estate at about 1:59pm, we discovered that the meeting had never begun.

I and my fellow delegate as well as the other young people who graced the meeting waited tirelessly for the meeting to commence. But all to no avail! What was the problem? Everyone was set, the Provost, the Public Relations Officer, and the Welfare person and as well as other executives was set for the meeting. Then who was delaying the meeting? It was just one young man who was the General coordinator. We continued to wait. I could see the boredom written clearly on the faces of dozens of people. I noticed a young lady who was sleeping. I started  being bored myself.

It was already 2:30pm and the meeting had not begun. At about 2:40pm we got an announcement that the coordinator just called in to give a ‘go-ahead’ for the meeting to commence. A semblance of relief  enveloped the atmosphere but we had myriads of queries to plunge to the coordinator when he finally arrives. I could see the anxiety and the pent-up anger in the faces of the people waiting patiently for the coordinator to answer the greatest question ‘Why on earth did you waste our time? Thirty minutes after the meeting began, a young man walked in majestically. Everyone’s hopes were high as we conscienciously observed where he was going to sit. We had our eyeballs fixed on him as he assumed a sit on the high table. But being a first timer I had one problem ‘was he the coordinator? I reacted within. Then He took the Public Address System to address the house.

He said ‘I am sorry for’ as he made that statement I knew he was the coordinator but I noticed that the whole house was ready for him even myself. They were waiting for him to finish giving his seemingly 'foolish' excuse then they were going to pounce on him without mercy. He continued ‘………. coming very early to this meeting. I only missed my flight’. As he made those statements he laughed and every one began to laugh as well. I laughed until I forgot all the stress it took me to come for the meeting. His statements obliterated the pain in the heart of the audience and filled it with joy unspeakable. The audience knew well that this man did not even have a bicycle let alone a car. Now he stand telling us he missed his flight.

Why did I have to take you through that story to make you understand what perception means? You see the way we look at things determines what we would get as results in the end. The young man in the story above knew well he was extremely behind schedule but he never allowed that to pester him. Rather he finally made something funny out of something that looks seemingly bad. He was able to handled and changed his perception. Deep down in his mind I believe there would be thoughts disturbing him while he was away. One thought would say to him ‘Look young man you know that you are supposed to preside over that meeting; and here you are late for the meeting. The house is going to be mad at you’ Another thought would say to him ‘Be strong, just go and the case will settle itself. Remember no one is perfect. You can still make something out of this. Just go’

Because he choose to control his thoughts, he was able to control the situation to favour himself and the entire audience. If it were you what would you have done? How would you have handle such situations? That one act taught me many lessons- to be always mindful with the way I use and handle my thoughts and emotions. The holy book observed ‘be mindful with your thoughts because they shape your life’. The one major cause of all the nagging and misunderstanding that besets most families, our relationships with people,and in our everyday activities stems from our inability to look at things constructively; from our inability to control our thoughts. Jesus Christ also understood that the way we look at things affects our life that was the sole reason why he advised his followers:

‘If any one hits you in your right face; turn to him your left so he could hit you again. If a man takes your coat give him your whole blanket. If a man takes you to court for no reason go extra mile with him’

I once had misunderstanding with a woman long time ago. She spoke harshly to me and even said she was going to report the matter to my parents. After all the issue were over. The next day I saw her while going out from the street. While I was approaching her and she was approaching me, many thoughts surged in my mind. ‘Should I greet her’ ‘no don’t greet her she reported to your mother; she spoke to you harshly’ and a still small voice said to me ‘just greet her it won’t cost you anything’. So I struggled and managed to greet her ‘Good morning’ and she responded amicably. But that one act marked the beginning of a long lasting relationship between me and this woman.

How do you look at things? Sometimes constructive thinking can make us look foolish because it is totally different from what a normal 'human' would do. I am not trying to tell you I am perfect with my thoughts, sometimes it can be very difficult you know. But I have observed that it is only pancea we need for all the problems we face in our daily lives. I have come to believe that if a man desires to change his circumstances then the first thing he should first change is his thoughts. The way we think determines the way we live. Little wonder did the holy book noted:

‘As a man thinks in his heart; so is he’

Have you experienced series of failures? It could be another chance to prepare again. Have you not achieved you set goals? It could be another chance to change something in your life. Do you think God has never answered your prayers? It could be God is testing to see if you are going to give up so soon. No matter what you are going through never allow it to debar you from moving ahead. All you need do is to adjust your perception and invoke a paradigm shift  Everything is just about how we think about something. In conclusion, A young man had this kind of grey hairs that made everyone think he was old. When someone asked him ‘Hey you have grey hairs’ He replied back ‘Do you have grey hairs just like me? The man answered ‘no’. Then he concluded ‘Then I am a different person created specially by God’

Be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY