Tobi Nifesi

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Perceptions

Photo by Florian Pérennès

Three weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a videographer I had recently met - and within a few minutes of our conversation, I felt like I already knew what kind of person she was. I had an inkling and I told her.

"You're already judging me!" she shot back, "It's fine though, I am used to it."

"No, no, er, it's not judgement." I said, hoping some witty nerve would kick in and it did, "It's a perception. It can change."

"But you don't know me."

"Yeah but I'm allowed to have an impression of you, aren't I?" I said, "That impression can change. It's not final, judgments are final. With judgments, I box you in and expect you to behave within certain parameters but that's not the case here. I'm merely perceiving you in a certain way, it doesn't necessary mean I've made any conclusions."

She didn't believe me just yet but mouthed "People mix those two up, most times."

And She's right. Many at times, we tend to juxtapose those two processes. We jump into conclusions based on our impressions - and this shouldn't be because it neither defines judgments nor perceptions. 

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Judgments are based on principles and beliefs not impressions or sensations. It's a calculated process. Regardless of what the truth is, if I believe an action is bad, I might judge you for doing them because I have already thought it through. Before I met you, I already thought about why I believe that action is in fact bad. My judgment is predetermined. 

Perceptions, on the other hand, are sensations. It's the way you see things right now. There is no real history to it and as humans, we are built to react to the present. So whenever you see, touch, taste, smell, hear something, you react based on your perceptions. Your perceptions can be wrong. They are ephemeral and not conclusive. You haven't really thought them through. 

That's the difference between these two abstract concepts; and

Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers

realized this before they designed the

MBTI personality test

My point is: what may seem like it is may not be. Don't jump into conclusions about people, things, places, events, scenarios and issues based on your perceptions. Be analytical and sort out or classify your feelings. 

That being said, there's nothing wrong with having perceptions or following your instincts. Just be able to define it as it is.