The scientific method relies on observation, measurement, and analysis to formulate conclusions. Each addition to the scientific body of knowledge builds upon what was previously understood. This progressive accumulation of information is what fuels the growth and expansion of our understanding. Likewise, the workings of consciousness follow a similar pattern.
From the moment of birth, our consciousness begins to accumulate information. The data we gather is contingent on the existing information within our environment. Each individual amasses a distinct set of information, molding their unique worldview, and subsequently, impacting their life experiences. Thus, it is reasonable to assert that our lives are fundamentally shaped by information.
This statement is not particularly new. We are already well aware that our bodies are subject to the influence of information encoded within our DNA. In recent years, through the field of Epigenetics, we have also discovered that various factors, including our environment, emotions, and even our experiences, can exert an influence through which DNA is activated or suppressed. Clearly, there exists a dynamic interplay between physical and non-physical information sets. One of these sets lies beyond our control; we cannot alter the genes we inherit. Conversely, we wield significant influence over the information we gather. If this collection of information can indeed determine which genes are expressed and which remain dormant, it underscores the importance of our awareness and conscious choices in the information we accumulate.
In my experience, accomplishing this is often easier said than done, but it’s far from impossible. The information we’ve accumulated over the years has created certain patterns that govern every facet of our lives. Our habits, routines, triggers, responses, reactions, disposition, and moods are all embedded within neural circuits that often activate with minimal conscious input from us. These circuits guide our focus and attention, determining which information we notice and which we overlook. They have a tendency to seek out data that reinforces the assumptions upon which they’re built, while disregarding any contradictory information, especially that which challenges our fundamental beliefs.
To grasp the influence of our focus on perception, we need not look beyond the renowned “Gorilla Experiment.” In this study, an individual dressed as a gorilla enters a room where people are engaged in passing a ball to one another. Participants, who were instructed to count the ball passes, entirely overlooked the gorilla’s presence. Their intense concentration on the ball obscured the blatantly obvious and wholly unexpected appearance of the person donned in the gorilla suit. This omission happened despite these instructions were provided mere minutes earlier. Now, contemplate the strength of your focus and its influence on your perception when it is directed by instructions ingrained since childhood. How likely do you think it is for us to notice something new, particularly if it contradicts the beliefs we’ve cultivated over a lifetime?
We often hold the conviction that what we witness is factual and indisputable because, in our minds, only observable events are deemed real, as the saying goes, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” For those participants who failed to notice the gorilla, its presence in the room remains a made-up story. However, this experiment barely scratches the surface of how our perception, and subsequently our entire worldview, hinges on the focal point of our attention. To my knowledge, we have yet to delve deeper into scrutinizing the impact of our beliefs on our perception. Given the substantial diversity in our belief systems, we should anticipate a similar range of variations in our perceptions.
Despite the absence of scientific inquiry into this matter, which, as I mentioned in my previous post, would hold significant implications for scientific reasoning, there exists a wealth of anecdotal evidence. We understand that eyewitness testimonies of an accident, for instance, are often unreliable as they seldom align with one another. We typically attribute this phenomenon to the fallibility of human memory, as it’s challenging for us to entertain the notion that these individuals may have genuinely perceived the situation differently. Similarly, albeit in less dramatic circumstances, couples rarely agree on their recollection of past events. This is chiefly because each person views the world from their distinct vantage point, shaped by the information they have amassed throughout their lives.
Additionally, an entire industry revolves around the deliberate alteration of the information we’ve accumulated throughout our lives: the self-help and personal development sector. While these endeavors do not unfold within the confines of rigorous scientific settings and remain inherently individual and subjective, there exists a sufficient body of evidence to sway skeptics. The widespread consensus on the pivotal role of mindset in achieving success should serve as ample indication for anyone willing to explore the subject. Nevertheless, those who remain unconvinced of the validity of such assertions are unlikely to perceive the evidence supporting them.
This article is intended for individuals who are open-minded enough to acknowledge that widespread acceptance does not necessarily equate to truth. When a multitude of people have achieved success by altering their mindsets, it should prompt us to question why it’s challenging to believe that reshaping our ideas is essential if we aspire to perceive a different world. We can take a moment to reflect and question our ideas, whether they pertain to personal or global aspects that we would like to change. All of us possess blind spots that selectively filter out particular information. The key question is: What are we currently filtering out that, if focused upon, could reshape our perception? Devoting some time to pondering this question may serve as the foundation for significant transformation. Moreover, I hope that posing this question acts as a catalyst for discussions that can help us, collectively, expand our perception.
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