The Power of Altering Your Perceptions

Your life patterns are the result of your perception or view of life, and what you believed would happen. These are often forged in childhood. Once you understand your personal life patterns, you will be better able to discover certain perceptions and expectations that led you to either negative or positive actions.

If your life patterns are framed in negativity, you can be sure your perceptions and expectations were also negative. The more negative your perceptions and expectations become, the greater they support any negative life patterns.

Another way to think of these perceptions is as filters, through which you view the events of your life. Some people, who seem perennially happy, are considered to view life through “rose-colored glasses.” Their filters are weighted on the side of the positive. In depression, life is viewed through, “gray-colored glasses.” Life appears negative, oppressive and filled with shadows.

In overcoming depression, one of the main areas you may need to change is the way you view life. For example, if you believe that life consistently treats you unfairly, then the inevitable ups and downs of life are filtered through that perception. Uptimes seem imaginary and are enjoyed, if at all, with suspicion, which times of disappointment are considered normal or par for the course. Every downtime that happens strengthens the idea that it’s just the way your life is.

If you have the perception that your life is supposed to always be smooth sailing, the inevitable downs can cause great anxiety. Downtimes are now put into a proper perspective because you don’t consider them to be legitimate in your life. Downtimes are supposed to happen to other people, but not to you. If you are unprepared to deal with these downtimes, confusion, frustration, and depression can result.

If you have the perception that you don’t really deserve to be happy, you will filter the events of your life to make sure you aren’t content. Good things will be met with suspicion, and bad things will be welcomed as old friends.

If you have the perception that the only way for you to be safe is to be in control, you will have a heightened sense of anxiety of life events. Since people are rarely in total control over their environment, and never in control of other people, this perception leaves a persistent, nagging feeling of insecurity. This perpetual sense of unease can lead to anxiety and depression. Additionally, perceptions are so powerful that they can become engines for a self-fulfilling prophecy.

By acknowledging negative perceptions, you can move forward toward a view of life that is neither unrealistically rosy nor unrelentingly gray. Acknowledging your pace, patterns, and perceptions allows you to control them, altering them to support your optimism, hope, and joy, even when life throws you a curve.

Our team at The Center • A Place of HOPE specializes in uncovering the toxic layers that have accumulated over time and revealing the person that you are truly meant to be. We specialize in whole-person care—in understanding the full dimensions of an individual, and the life script that brought them to where they are today. Each person that comes to The Center • A Place of HOPE is unique, which means that their recovery journey will be equally unique. We are ready to help you on this journey to uncover your true, healthy, happy self. If you are ready to take the first step on this journey, fill out this form or call 1-888-747-5592 to speak with a recovery specialist today.