The wider our view, the more we can encompass

In a previous blog I noted that it’s the brain that sees, not the eyes which send data via electrical impulses to the brain where they are interpreted to make seeing instantaneously possible.

The image above, taken with a zoom lens, reveals something about perception—beyond merely seeing. In an instant, the eye/brain/nervous system have us looking closely, as on a word, and then shifting our sight to a wide view—for instance to a computer screen, wall or something else. It’s so natural, that we sighted people take it for granted.

More broadly and perhaps less appreciated, is the phenomenon of shifting our focus by zooming in and out to gather data on relationships, society, politics, religion and science—all the domains of our experience—in order to construct meaning and direct our lives to what’s important to us. What we see and how we interpret the data collected is determined by three key factors: position, lens and filters.

Position

Position is where we stand—physically and mentally—in relation to the object, person or event being observed. When my car door gets badly dinged, I care. When a stranger’s car gets dinged I care less. I may not even notice. From the standpoint of a watchdog journalist, the world is filled with corruption and abuses. Another journalist—CBS’s Steve Hartman comes to mind—looks for and finds a world filled with love, compassion, accomplishment and consideration for others. The position we take relative to our everyday perceptions depends on where we are and “where we’re coming from.” It may be dynamic and changeable, but it’s our point of view.

We take positions on everything physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Because politics is polarizing, it provided a good illustration. There’s the perception that the world is composed of black vs white, good vs evil, haves vs have-nots and us vs them. This perspective is past oriented, favoring measures that protect, defeat or punish in order to maintain or manage the separation. In this worldview, subscribers see themselves as independent individuals, authors of their own destiny; government should interfere as little as possible.

On the other hand, there’s the perception that the world is better managed through cooperation and collaboration, rather than competition. Because it looks to future and asks how it can be improved, it favors initiatives that improve, empower, expand and unite. As interdependent members of a greater whole system, the perception is that we’re “all in it together” and “we can do so much more together than we could ever do apart.” The role of government, aside from security, is to discover and facilitate whatever contributes to the general well being of the whole system. Both perspectives have  costs and benefits. It’s why the American system has checks and balances. And why, over time, the pendulum swings both ways.

Lenses

The purpose of a lens is to gather light and organize it into a comprehensive, well-focused image. A zoom lens gives a photographer the ability to quickly—or slowly—change from a wide to a closeup view, to see more or less of what’s in front of the camera without changing position.

In the realm of perception, lenses amount to personal preferences relating to what we want to see. Extending the metaphor, some of us prefer zoom lenses because it allows us to get both a wide and closeup view while maintaining a fixed position. Others prefer “prime,” fixed focal length lenses, which require a shift in position but render better definition or “resolving power”—a clearer picture. And of course, there are those who, like professional photographers, shift back and forth depending upon the circumstances.

We come into the world fully zoomed in. Everything is close. As our eyes adapt, we see mother, then father. In time the view widens out to include other people and the environment. As we age, our perception widens to include more of the world physically, and then psychologically and socially, politically and spiritually. Our point of view—and along with it awareness—expands, as does the widening of our perspectives relative to relationships, play, work, interests, values and beliefs. And as we approach adulthood, one of the clear perceptions is that other people and institutions have different preferences, they’re seeing the world through different lenses.

Socially, this difference can be illustrated by television. The viewer’s preference is to see it as a source of information and entertainment. They want fewer commercials and more programming. On the other hand, television executives see it through the lens of business. Their preference is to have more commercials and less programming.

The lenses we inherit from past experience color our present and future experience. But we can and often do, change lenses. A photographer decides to change lenses for a variety of technical and aesthetic reasons. Our reason for changing lenses has more to do with exposure to new ideas, perspectives or experiences. We read a book, watch a movie or television program, attend a class, overhead a conversation or observe some life-altering event. The more we indulge in these, and the greater their influence, the more our point of view will expand. And that affects a shift in position. And then something happens, resulting in another shift. In human development language, it the process of consciousness rising. We’re always learning more.

Filters

Filters modify, shape or color light as it comes into a camera—or mind.  Through one filter a rocking-chair approach to retirement can be viewed as a waste of time. Viewed through the filter of Buddhism, a mindful approach to sitting still can lead to enlightenment. A Christian filter might urge us to get out of the chair and help those less fortunate. A business CFO sees everything through cost analysis, spreadsheet and marketshare filters. Their customers are looking at the price, application and safety of the product.

From where I sit, considering the limited focal length of my lens and filters, I have reached the conclusion that every position, lens and filter is valid, perfectly suited to the perceiver given the times and their circumstances— with the exception of those who are intent upon or benefitting from violence.

While perceptions differ widely and in opposition can result in personal and social tragedies, I suspect conflict is life’s way of refining the perception of self and others in order to bring individuals and nations into right relationship with each other and the planet. Eventually. In the image of the tree above, I notice that zooming-out produces more light and richer color. I think the same is true of the human mind. The wider our view—the more we can take in, encompass, accept, appreciate and love—the greater our illumination.

 

Power rests in the conjunction of what the individual perceives of his own internal being, what he perceives in the world about him, and how he relates these perceptions to establish his relations with other human beings.

Richard Adams, English novelist

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My other sites—

Love And Light greetings.com: A twice-weekly blog featuring wisdom quotes and perspectives in science and spirituality intended to inspire and empower

David L. Smith Photography Portfolio.com: Black and white and color photography

Ancient Maya Cultural Traits.com: Weekly blog featuring the traits that made this civilization unique