Monday, June 20, 2011

We Perceive the World Through Filters

I was sitting at the pool yesterday with the current book I'm reading: one of those not-well known murder mysteries that someone published because it was a goal in their life probably....you know which ones i'm talking about.

In this little book, however, I came across a few lines that I went back and read for a second time. They were the following:

"Always, the eye sees more than the mind can comprehend, and we go through life self-blinded to much that lies before us. We want a simple world, but we live in a magnificently complex one, and rather than open ourselves to it, we perceive the world through filters that make it less daunting. Complexity implies meaning. We are afraid of meaning."

I started thinking about what this said, and realized that it his very true- in my life anyway. I know I am very guilty of having these "filters." In fact, I probably have a very large number of then. I simplify my life based on what I feel safe with. I tend to pick the expected because the unexpected is that-I do not know what to expect from it so I feel nervous, uneasy.

I also make my world less daunting by making up excuses for many things....sometimes that seems to make things better and less complex. This means usually placing the blame for certain things on myself. "oh the reason they no longer talk to me is probably because they're just too busy, have other things to do....no way its their fault."

I must have missed the memo on this one, but not responding must be the new "it" thing to do. That text message sent 13 days ago...still waiting for a reponse. But dont worry about getting back to me, I wasnt expecting it *sarcasm*

I feel that we tend to pick and choose things that we know will produce good things (or so we think) because we are afraid of other things that we do not feel comfortable with. 




4 comments:

  1. Wow. That's a heavy line from that book you are reading. I like it!

    Don't sweat the filters. We all do that. There is enough you have to deal with that you can't avoid (school, work, etc.) You will deal with whatever it is when you are ready to. I remember when an ex-boyfriend said to me once "T, your life is all pink bows and polo sweaters". And I realized that I truly had allowed my life to be that simple. And at the time that was what I needed. But today it's a hell of a lot more complicated ;)

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  2. Wow, I love that quote! I save quotes from every book I read! That is so true-- and I think we also tend to see what we want to see rather than what we always need to see. This, however, may not be a bad thing though, because we all do it and it protects us at times!

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  3. i agree with DSS - we all have filters... and we filter it down until it becomes what we need at the time.

    i'm so sorry you're dealing with this person. my only advice is to STOP dealing with this person. totally easier said than done!

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  4. Thank you for a post that invites self-reflection and thought. I will definitely be thinking about this for a couple days. I know I am guilty of trying everything to keep people in my life, apologizing when I didn't do anything etc., and as hard as it is... the people that want to be in your life will make an effort to stay. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

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