Perceptions
February 6th, 2007 RachelIf you’ve known me for a while, and seen me out with my Toronto group of girls, you’d probably think “Wow, she’s on the shorter side.” Between my band of 5′8″ - 5′11″ ladies, my 5′6.24999″ is piddly in a group photo.
Then I move to Los Angeles, go out with a group of equally fabulous girls, and realize that I’m at least four inches taller than each girl in the room. In some photos I’m standing an entire head above everyone else. All of a sudden…I’m a giant.
The way we look at things, the opinions we hold as true, they’re so dependent on the circumstances, people, and experiences surrounding us. And they’re fluid…at least they should be. This month, I’m tall, next month when I’m back in Toronto for Canadian Music Week (where I’ll be meeting up with some of my favorite people, taking in some fantastic music, and participating in a panel discussion on music recommendation engines that should be very interesting), I’ll be a shorty pants again.
Perceptions, opinions, and beliefs only become problematic when you think they’re fact. Don’t forget what’s informing them, and don’t hesitate to take in new information (even if it’s contrary to what you want to believe) in order to tweak or modify your thinking. That’s how we grow - stubborn convictions are nothing if they get in the way of actual thinking.
