We live in a world that puts tremendous value on the image of status, or the lack thereof. There’s a reason we are attracted to celebrities & stars, but there’s a reason we’re so dismissive of the “have nots”. Perception is the way WE choose to see things (not necessarily the way they are). At the beginning of the 20th century the New Thought movement was starting to take form. They taught that the mind & how we think shapes our reality. I personally agree with this, this understanding informs my perception.
Confidence, intelligence, & a degree of fearlessness will carry you a long way, there are many more degrees that accompany the above stated attributes, but you get the point. I’m saying this to say that our perceptions are powerful motivators, upon self & others. I chose to perceive being in prison as being in a University, an opportunity to rebuild myself. My life isn’t easy, but no one life is.
Circumstances don’t define us, how we react to them do. I’m a better man because of how I chose to perceive life. But I also realize how my perception affects others as no one wants to be judged by the worst moment of their life. There’s a saying, “when respect is shown, respect is given”. I try to see in others what I want them to see what I see in myself. Prison is my location, it’s not who I am. Try to see me!
Peace.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay