Actively recognize that you have a unique point of view and that all your perceptions are filtered through it, not objective reality. This understanding is socially important for acknowledging that others also have their own distinct perspectives, fostering better communication.
When encountering information or situations, actively ask yourself, ‘could there be another explanation for that?’ or ‘what’s an alternate viewpoint?’ This practice helps you understand that everything in life is perspective and can help you avoid tribal thinking.
Be aware that your perception and interpretation of events (e.g., an email or a conversation) are heavily influenced by your current nervous system state (e.g., stressed vs. calm). This helps you understand that the meaning you infer can change with your internal state, preventing misinterpretations.
Practice catching yourself in the act of interpreting things, recognizing that all experiences, even basic ones like color, are interpretations. This makes it easier to become aware of your own interpretive processes and their influence.
Strive to recognize that all your perceptions are your own creations and constructions, not totally arbitrary but also not objective reality. This helps you gain psychological distance and a higher level of context, allowing you to better understand and navigate situations.
Practice meditation by letting your thoughts, experiences, emotions, and moods just pass by like clouds, witnessing their passing without buying into them. This creates a useful gap between how things seem and how they are, preventing rumination and allowing you to step outside habitual patterns.
Occasionally stop during your day, similar to a walking meditation, to reflect on your perceptions, such as the colors you see, and consider where they truly exist. This helps automate the recognition that perceptions are an interaction between the world and your brain, which can improve communication with others.
Engage in meditative practice to realize that the experience of self is not a fixed entity but a changing bundle of different experiences and perceptions. This perspective is complementary to understanding that all perceptions are constructions and helps de-center a fixed self-identity.