Perception

I found this as the definition from an online dictionary for perception:

per·cep·tion (pr-spshn) KEY

NOUN:

The process, act, or faculty of perceiving.
The effect or product of perceiving.
Psychology
Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli based chiefly on memory.
The neurological processes by which such recognition and interpretation are effected.

Insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving.
The capacity for such insight.

I don't like it. To me it is much simpler. It is what people hear when you talk to them. As I mature, I find that you can almost never guarantee what people hear when you speak to them. First, you must consider...Were they listening, or were they just hearing? Then from there, you can better determine which kind of person you are dealing with.

My grandmother brought this to my attention when I was probably about 11 or 12. It is something that has never left my mind entirely. Let me first explain: When I am speaking to someone, I really need to have their full attention. If I feel as if someone I am speaking to is drifting off into the "wild blue yonder", I'll real them back in by asking them straight, "Are you listening?!" Well, who knows what I was even speaking to her about, but I asked her that same question, and her response was astounding to the point it made a huge impact on my life. You see, words almost always plant some sort of seed. She answered in a very matter of fact way, "Carla, I do not listen to you, I only hear you." Wow. At least she was honest, right?

This also proves the point, the apple never falls far from the tree. Even though I am not her daughter, I am her granddaughter, and as Mother reminds me constantly, I should have been a third sibling to her and my Uncle, or just my Uncle's daughter. I really have often wondered if my Uncle and my Mother didn't switch babies early on...That's another blog, another mood.

Over the last month, less than a month, actually, people's perception has rocked friendships and other relationships in my life. (Side note: The "other relationships" I will not discuss in great detail in this blog.) People sit around and are so stubborn they perceive things wrong, and based upon their misperceptions, harbor ideas in their mind. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we can revisit these misperceptions with those folks who did not/could not/would not listen to what it is you were saying. Perhaps they were just merely "hearing."

Now, you have some folks who flat out never hear what it is you have to say. Sometimes this is good. Through relationship building you will come across those who you know are always hearing you. I believe they want to listen, but they get bored and go into "hear mode." Bless their hearts, they are real gems, they are.

I don't know, I just know you can never be too certain what people are listening to when you talk, or if they even hear you! You could be talking in a mere whisper and some people will hear a lion roaring. Then on top of people not listening to the words you are saying, not asking questions about what they don't understand, they come to God-awful conclusions...This is the kicker: They then repeat what it is you have said to them...Ahhh...this just makes me cringe!