The World We See Within: How Our Inner World Shapes Our Perception and Experience

We all have different eyes. Unique. Not only in their shape and form, but in the “filters” through which we translate the stimuli of the world into personal experience.

Simply put, we are all different. And we experience life in our own, distinct way.

This means that the same situation, the same event, can affect us completely differently from someone else — even from people we grew up with.

There is, however, something we all share:

The stimuli we receive gradually shape the way we see life. The difficult, the stressful, the unpleasant — they will affect all of us. More or less. Sooner or later.

But the same is true for the beautiful things.

And most of the time, we are not even aware that this is happening.

Our perception of the world shifts almost silently. We rarely stop to consider what kind of stimuli we have exposed ourselves to in order to be experiencing this inner state.

We often say about others that they live “in their own world,” in their own “microcosm.” And yet, perhaps this microcosm is the most important one of all.

Because that is where our experience begins.

It is where the way we see, think, and feel takes shape. It is where the views, attitudes, and choices we bring into our lives — and into the world around us — are formed.

If we take care of this microcosm, if we give it space for color, scent, taste, meaningful relationships and experiences, for melodies as well as silence, then something begins to shift.

Our experience becomes more meaningful. More vivid. More truly our own.

And perhaps then, what we carry with us into the world — into every encounter, every interaction — becomes a little brighter.

And that, in turn, may touch someone else, too.

Because through these small moments, we have the power to shift our state of being.