Questions About Perception And Change
I’m obsessed with perception. It’s what I speak about, it’s what I think about.
The following questions are perceptual. I don’t have any answers, yet. I hope to get the answers over the next few days, weeks, years and decades. As I do, I’ll share them with you. In fact, if you’re reading this I’m sure you already have your own answers for some of these, and I’d love to hear them.
For now, here’s what I’m questioning while our family is self-isolating at home:
Perception of Covid19 - What forces are influencing people’s perceptions of the severity of the current threat? How do our actual and digital lives inform our decisions? How much information do we need to have before we feel certain about something?
Perception of Ourselves - What influences how we view our role in the current moment? How are people reacting to change? Why do some people see this as a challenge and others as opportunity?
Perception of Time - Why do we overestimate some things and underestimate others? How does our perception of time change as we age? Which factors influence why some people are better at planning for the long-term and why others are better at acting in the short-term?
Another way to phrase these questions would be:
How do people perceive change?
How do we perceive ourselves at a time of change?
How do we know if what we are doing is right?
I’m watching human beings — people I know in life, but now see only through video — navigate the information that is coming at us, and I’m reminded how critical perception is.
Understanding how someone perceives something — what info they’re seeing, how and how often, what are their strengths and weaknesses of processing this info — helps me to navigate to a more successful communication.
BAM! Suddenly, communication channels are changed. We’re now all virtual.
Everything I’ve been mastering in life is suddenly…changed.
And yet, the same thing I’ve been obsessed about for decades (understanding how I and others perceive) matters to me more than ever.
Damn. What an interesting time to be alive.
So let’s stay alive. Wash your hands. Be smart. Take care of your family and each other.
This will pass.
At least that’s my perception.
I’m just not sure when or how.
In the mean-time, I’ll be thinking about the answers to all these questions.
Love,
Kostya
