Perception Drives Behavioral Choices
1. Let your eyes linger on the picture of the frog for a few seconds. Recall the thoughts you had while you were looking at it.
2. Shift your focus to the next picture of the horse and do the same thing. Think about what new thoughts came to mind.
3. When you are told that the picture of the horse head is the same picture as the frog - simply turned, will you turn, look and consider it? Or do you disregard the direction to take a second look so you can attend to another matter?
Impulses stem from the stimuli your senses detect and then these prompt you into decision-making. The impulse to make a snap decision is a natural function of human beings. It is due to the way the brain processes information. In automatic processing, the goal of the brain is to expedite the processing of incoming information so you take swift action. (Similar to, but not quite, like natural instincts such as the instinct for self-preservation - known as the "survival instinct".) An impulse is like taking a short cut. Your brain defaults to the use of memory rather than thought. The brain generates the impulse for you to act in a way that you have used in the past to resolve a similar stimuli, even when the choice did not prove itself to be a thorough or long-term solution. Thus the difference between instinct and intentionality. Both physical and mental heuristics combine to make everyday, snap, decisions so you aren't weigh down with analyzing details for each of the thousands of decisions made per day.
The picture of the frog/horse head is an example that shows how quickly your brain produces snap judgements. It happens so fast we hardly know it's taking place. It's not until conscious awareness breaks through that we will interrupt the automacy from thought to the decision to act. It is not until someone points out an alternative view-the picture is a horse head- that prompts us to take a second look at the picture.
Perception is another short cut, but one that is personal, based on how you interpret the stimuli around you. It
shapes how you interpret stimuli, which in and of itself, is neutral/objective. Not so with perception. Aside from being personal, perception is emotional, efficient and habitual. Stimuli (be it physical or emotional) triggers your brain to assess the situation in a way that draws upon a memory of how you took prior action to a similar feeling or circumstance. The automation process channels and organizes details so that it can take swift action on all the random thoughts that pop up in your brain. Think of perception as adding color to a back and white TV.
It is perception that colors the TV, it doesn't change the channel unless you intentional decide to do it. For example, one of the thoughts may have popped up in your head in response to a stimuli may be a memory, one in the form of a familiar habit - how you have handled a similar thing in the past. Or you may select a certain thought because it feels comfortable .... like something you saw modeled in your home in childhood (dysfunctionally or not). Perception - your personal reality - cushions or shades how you interpret the stimuli to so you can react with a quick decision. The brain's goal is efficiency; its method is impulsive, not intentional. Perception is behind snap judgements because every stimuli you experience is channeled through your personal perception. Forthcoming decisions and actions that you make become patterns of behavior, predictable by others through your personality and your habits. Perception is filtering information through a preconceived opinion.
In the case of looking at the picture above, at first, you may have taken the picture of the frog at face value
and didn't give it a second thought. This may be one reason why old habits are hard to break.
When someone draws your attention to the fact that the picture can also be a horse head, how do you react?
Will you take a second look with a more open mindset and entertain a different conclusion?
Physical habits as well as patterns of thinking form cognitive bias in judgement which shapes the way your brain sees things; your unique perception. Open-mindedness describes a way in which some people approach the views and knowledge of others. The more open-minded you are, the more you are able to consider and grow your own perspective. This sounds easy but its rather hard to identify the trait in yourself. There are a few biases associated with these mostly helpful short cuts that you need to be aware so you can grow through life making better decisions. For example, due to the comfort zone bias, you want to believe your that first initial interpretation of the stimulus is correct causing you to implement a decision in the present that you have used in the past, even when it didn't produce the best consequences. Even when you are aware of your comfort zone bias, another one to be aware of is the "belief perseverance" bias; continuing to apply the first solution you learned to a continuing problem. Together these cause a tendency for you to automatically choose a familiar, efficient action over the most appropriate action. The dangers of a closed-minded or limited perspective is that when you are presented with information that is outside of your frame of reference or "comfort zone", your first impulse / thought may be to reject the information and, in so doing, inadvertently discard the truth. Perception even shapes the way you anticipate the future and is why perception and attitude are so closely aligned. Knowing this tendency arms you with a readiness to address it.
How you interpret your thoughts determines your attitude and actions. What do you do with all the thoughts that come to your mind?
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What do you do with the information gathered through your senses?
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Do you do the first thought that satisfies your impulse for short-term gratification?
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Do you await alternate thoughts to come to mind before choosing one?
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Do you discard and deny those that make you feel uncomfortable?
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Do you justify your thoughts based on your emotions and rights?
Your mind triggers thoughts indiscriminately and constantly. Don't try to block out a thought. Let each one present itself so you can intentionally decide what to do with each one; accept it, reject it or store for later use. Do not be tempted to take action on the first thought that is generated. Be patient and be picky!
Play the Mind Game!
Try visualizing the thought evaluation process. Picture each stimuli from your senses generating a thought. Then watch the thought float from the back of your mind, through a narrow tunnel. As the thought is moving, evaluate its worth against the walls of the tunnel-your values and standards. If the thought doesn’t stick to the wet, cement, walls-your criteria, then let that particular thought exit through your eyes. If you aren't sure about the worth of the thought, research it. Then decide if you should you keep it while you evaluate the next thought goes through the same process.
Because common biases occur in the formation of your perception and because the role of emotion clouds your personal judgement, calling on a trusted higher authority to help you see objective truths leads you to a more appropriate decision. Objective input helps you construct and maintain a filter that guards against personal or social biases that stunt your growth and halt learning. For example, your snap decisions are typically me-centered with the goal of instant gratification to relieve uncertainty, regardless of future consequences. On the other end of the spectrum, is a fantasy - dictating standards that are impossible to reach. The secrete to reaching a middle ground among these extremes is your prerogative. By inviting a trusted Higher Authority to check your desires against the truth, you can avoid faulty, subjective, decisions while enhancing your filter as you move through life. (This is the start of learning and/or change process as briefly explained in Appendix 1F and Appendix 1O). You are always responsible for your decisions so choose your higher authority carefully.
The Attitude and Behavior Connection
Memories stored in your brains' filter are intensified (or not) based on the accompanying emotions attached to the thought. Accepting the pain associated with the memory of a stimulus can release you from errors in judgement which enhances the learning process and keeps you more open-minded. Choosing the right Higher Authority can help you work through this too. If your filter is not based on truth and if you are not open to growing your perspective throughout life, you get stuck with a limited perspective and this affects your maturity and resulting behavioral choices which can be good or bad based on how you have chosen to incorporate the memory into the walls of your filter. (In a sense you are limiting your own choices). The more knowledge and wisdom you allow into your filter as you go through life, the broader your perception becomes. The subject of personality behavior and its impact on health and well-being is the subject of Appendix 1T. Take some time to explore the self-quizzes in the "Capture your Vision" tab to take a closer look at how confidence or anxiety taints your decision-making.)
Belief perseverance, ingrained patterns of thinking and doing, or closed mindedness may be contributing to the continuation of your unhealthy habits. This is why changing a biased, subjective viewpoint is slow to start on your own initiative. It takes time, input and concentrated effort to a master a change in personality patterns. (Read more about a subjective viewpoint through the lens of a psychological theory called "belief perseverance https://www.clearerthinking.org/post/the-list-of-common-cognitive-bias-with-examples.) Sometimes it may take addiction or something else in life that you can’t control (like a car accident, a weather disaster, death, etc.) to come to the point where you are ready to accept and change your perception resulting in behavioral change. Achieving cognitive consistency in your life (changing your thinking and perception as well as your physical habits) takes a 180 degree change. Choosing God as your higher authority can break through cultural ties and reposition you to operate and develop heuristics based on truth which promotes Christian cognitive consistency. When you follow God as your Higher Authority and trust His method of achieving peace as recorded in Colossians 3:14-15 you take a second look at the temporal things of this life and make a decision to use an eternal perspective. For example, the Apostle Paul made the statement, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Paul's perception change was a complete 180 turn in both his attitude and behavior as he journeyed through life incorporating truths into his relative reality. Read more about it at
https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/conversion-of-saul/.
When perception is based on truth, as in recorded in the Bible, it prevents you from a wrong interpretation of the message and saves you from the experience of being deceived by the perception of yourself and/or other people (Ephesians 4:13-15). By knowing the Word of God, you'll develop voluntary boundaries to behavior which will make your decisions intentional and objective rather than spontaneous and subjective (see Appendix 2H). Not only will you have more options to choose from when making a decision but you'll recognize the right solution as identified by your valued and trusted Higher Authority! Be intentional and selective. Use your faith to frame and evaluate your incoming thoughts and information. Pick the thought that brings character integrity to your beliefs. Doing this makes Christian cognitive consistency a reality in your life.
Don’t compartmentalize God. You may just want God to rescue you from your addiction, and He can, but there’s more to it. God can pull you out of a disastrous situation, but unless you change your behavioral habits, the rescue will only be temporary. Both thinking and acting on right thoughts are skills you need to develop. To have a steady supply of Godly thoughts to choose from when making a decision (biblical discernment), you need to have a prepared mind. If you don’t know the Word, you will not be able to recognize God’s direction. After you have renewed your perspective and you are familiar with God’s Word, you need to decide to act on it. This is how you break a cycle of self-defeating behavioral habits. Placing God at the center of your life, praying, reading the Bible and letting the Holy Spirit lead you in all areas of life, not just to church, is evidence of your faithful commitment to God! This process is shapes your thinking and perspective with your values before you act (Proverbs 12:25, Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:8).
Perception is Stagnant when Weighed Down by Pride
To wait for a thought that you can action on takes patience derived from faith (Colossians 3:12). Faith in who determines your confidence during this waiting period. Do you invite God's wisdom into decision-making? For this to become a regular practice, you need to balance your self-concept with humility towards God. Once you align yourself with God, you’ll look at life through the eyes of Holy Love and this perspective changes your life, as
experienced by Saul who transformed his personality into the Apostle Paul. The Bible is clear that it’s OK to encourage and admonish each other and to take pride in the goodness of God. But we cross into sin when pride revolves around ourselves to the exclusion of recognizing God and His presence in others. Are you blind to your own pride? (Read more @ https://www.allaboutgod.com/sin-of-pride-5.htm).
Pride traps you. Either too much pride (arrogance) or not enough of it (shyness) indicates an unhealthy self-concept that is driven by a need to prove self-worth. Without Christ at the center of your life, you either think too highly of or too lowly of yourself but the point is that you think too much of yourself. Security “in Christ” yields confidence while anxiety and self-reliance yield fear, worry, and false pride (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 2 Chronicles 26:16, 32:26, Jeremiah 4:22, Psalm 91:1-2, Matthew 6:25-34).
Antisocial behavior occurs when you no longer negotiate between your own interests and those of the common good of societal interests.
The sin of pride is seen throughout the Bible, beginning with Eve’s decision in Genesis 3 to doubt God’s instructions. When God’s standards of holiness conflict with self-interest, the temptation to sin is present within you. When sin is chosen, it signals that a person has chosen to follow the “way of Cain“ (Genesis 4:6-7, Jude 1:11). God is the creator of the universe and the supreme authority over all creation whether you know/admit it or not. You will ignore His commands and proceed in an independent, self-driven lifestyle if you don’t engage in and respect a personal relationship with God, rejecting the temptation to try other ways to please yourself. If you make this choice, you have just made a value decision, howbeit unconsciously, that you will NOT honor the Lord above yourself or others. Behavior is the silent communicator. Your choices are recognized by others as a representation of your values, even if YOU don’t see it.
The spirit of independence blocks repentance; insecurity (either expressed as anger or withheld in anxiety) keeps you stuck in a CYCLE OF SIN which leads to more sin blinded by pride and disguised as socially acceptable independence as depicted here and further explained in Appendix 1I and Appendix 2N.
PRODE BLOCKS THE EXPRESSION OF SELF-LESS LOVE.
Unlocking the Key to Life
Jesus declares, “I am the way, truth, life. No one comes to me except through the Father” (John 14:6). When you choose to enter into this relationship with Him because you've been humbled by His eminence, you’ll experience the freedom of a Holy God. To be free to love as a child of God, you need to use His mercy and grace (as only a humble person can do) to live within the boundaries of self-less Love (Appendix 2H). Jesus showed us how to do this by knowing and living by and demonstrating the truth of God’s Word, despite popular culture. Humbling yourself to the point where you imitate Jesus shows you have replaced self-love for love and trust in God. Spiritual righteousness expressed in your soul, and body motivated by self-less love is the direct path that leads to spiritual awakening; the key to eternal life (John 8:31-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, 11:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 5:9).
Read more about the interaction of personal personality (see below heading on "Pride", more on defense mechanisms in Appendix 1K and social character in and section two,
"Manage Self in a Social World".
If you have not become a Christian yet, know that God wants to be in a relationship with you. He loves you, but He is waiting for your consent, your invitation, your readiness, to try the habits of holiness so you take the straight, abundant path, through life, avoiding pitfalls. Pitfalls are unanticipated difficulties that can spiring from the temptation to please yourself despite being advised to broaden your perspective (Mark 14:38, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:13-17). If you already called on Christ as Savior, then make a second decision and ask Him to be Lord of your life too. One without the other creates anxiety from an abuse of grace; a biblical description of cognitive dissonance. An abuse of grace is committed by a Christian who takes advantage of God’s mercy and kindness by accepting Him as Savior, but does not change their attitude and behavior to joyfully obey Christ revealing that He is the Lord of your life too (Romans 6:1, 1 Peter 3:15, Jude 4, Titus 2:1-14). Align yourself to God’s standards as revealed in the Bible to learn how to consciously inhibit impulses and make intentional decisions that please God (see Appendix 1D and Appendix 1R).