4th February 2010

Quote

Each of us tends to think we see things as they are, that we are objective. But this is not the case. We see the world, not as it is, but as we are—or, as we are conditioned to see it. When we open our mouths to describe what we see, we in effect described ourselves, our perceptions, our paradigms. When other people disagree with us, we immediately think something is wrong with them. But sincere, clearheaded people see things differently, each looking through the unique lens of experience. This does not mean that there are no facts. But each person’s interpretation of the facts represents prior experiences, and the facts have no meaning whatsoever apart from the interpretation. The more aware we are of our basic paradigms, maps, or assumptions, and the extent to which we have been influenced our experience, the more we can take responsibility for those paradigms, examine them, test them against reality, listen to others and be open to their perceptions, there by getting a larger picture and a far more objective view.