Who do you see?

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Deepak Chopra

Our minds influence the key activity of the brain, which then 

influences everything; perception, cognition, thoughts and 

feelings, personal relationships; they're all a projection of 

you.

Jon Bon Jovi

Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a 

miracle is and you'll see them all around you.


Edward Bono

Studies have shown that 90% of error in thinking is due to 

error in perception. If you can change your perception, you 

can change your emotion and this can lead to new ideas.


John C. Maxwell

The difference between average people and achieving people 

is their perception of and response to failure.


William Blake

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would 

appear to man as it is, infinite.


Martina Navratilova

Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one 

thing well, you're needed by someone.



Definition of perception/perceive by Websters dictionary:

-To be affected of influented by.
- To take intellectual cognizance of; to apprehend by the mind; to be convinced of by direct intuition; to note; to remark; to discern; to see; to understand.
- To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence, character, or identity of, by means of the senses; to see, hear, or feel; as, to perceive a distant ship; to perceive a discord.

  So I have been thinking lately about perception. The perception I have of myself, the perception others have of me, the perception I would like to portray and it all can be overwhelming. I have struggled all my life with this but I think for me, it challenges me and makes me a better person.

How often have you said or heard someone say, "I don't care what others think"? Well that's always a lie because someones opinion of you always matters. It might not be the worlds opinion and it shouldn't be because you can never please everyone. But whether it's your parents, significant other, friends, coworkers, kids, your church, god etc. You care about how someone perceives you and may even alter your behavior or appearance just to please them. To thine own self be true they say. Don't listen to what they say but the funny thing is we always do.

Perceive yourself as the best no matter what anyone else thinks

So how do I please the people that matter to me or the people who are around me? The truth is if being who you are offends people or they can't accept you for who you are then you don't need those people in your life. Sure sometimes easier said then done but when your tired of feeling guilty, being judged and feeling miserable for who you think you are, then you will let them go. Most of the time people push us, challenge us out of love and good intentions because they see so much potential in us or they know the good person inside you choose not to portray. But at the end of the day, if your vision is different then the one they perceive then you have to be honest with them and yourself. And I don't mean if your cashier this week, aspire to be on fries next week and then promoted to flipping burgers next month. I mean you want to be an artist but everyone says you should be a doctor. You want to be a missionary but everyone says your to smart and do something else.

This is your life and mine. You can be as great as you want to be or be anything you want to be. You can love who you want, live how you want, pray to who you want, hang out with who you want, listen or say whatever you want and its up to you. You have to look in the mirror every night and be ok with the decisions you made and still love who you are. And if the people who are in your life don't accept you after that then I promise you that you don't need them. I'm not saying every decision we make may be right but if you can live with it, then that's between you and god.

If you want people to think differently in general about you then you must be more conscious about everything you do and your surroundings. If you are tired of everyone thinking your a bitch then try to smile at all times, speak to everyone, leave big tips, laugh even when its not funny, go out of your way to help someone, wear a t-shirt that says "I'm not a bitch". Tired of being considered an asshole, try thinking about others before yourself, check to see if others are ok around you or call them, smile, cook for someone, bring people gifts or flowers, say nice things (try to mean it), give things away, let her finish first. 

Its in our power to control the image that people have of us and its our job to project the perception we want them to have. You only get one chance to make a first impression but you have a life time to affirm it or change it. If it really matters to you than you can and if you don't care then shake the dust off your feet and move on. Don't let people bring you down for being who you are especially if you know your heart is in the right place. As someone said, don't let people touch your soul with dirty hands and if they do, cut them off. 

Thanks for reading. Please share and leave comments here.

Workout today:
5 sets - 4 reps front squats and muscle ups or pullups in between

then:
5 sets - 4 reps push press and 30 inch box jumps in between

then:
50 double unders
40 wallballs
30 pullups
50 double unders
30 wallballs
20 pullups
50 double unders
20 wallballs
10 pullups
50 double unders