The Influence of Thought Patterns on Our Perception of Reality
One’s perspective on reality is derived from their experiences, knowledge, and character traits. This notion influences outcomes that an individual will be led to due to the actions taken, based on their comprehension of a situation (Ness & Strong, 2015). For example, one’s perceptions of justice can affect one’s attitude toward criminal behavior.
Harmful thought patterns that focus on adverse events reduce one’s empowerment and encourage a passive approach to decision-making (Burns & Sinko, 2021). A person may feel inadequate to become a driving force in their life, which can prompt them to adopt a fatalistic worldview and create additional issues stemming from such behavior. Negative perceptions of reality can lead to further conflict escalations, as they tend to create justifications for such behavior (Jokinen, 2020). Analyzing one’s thought patterns is essential to determining their contribution to one’s life experiences.
Simultaneously, a perspective that empowers an individual can bring positive changes into their life. A thought pattern that prioritizes seeking meaningful solutions can assist people with repairing the damage after adverse encounters and provide a direction toward healing (Natali & Hall, 2021). Adequate responses to challenging events often stem from a person’s willingness to improve their well-being.
A thought pattern incorporating the idea that their reality can be changed leads to faster restorative processes (Hadar & Gal, 2023). One can perceive opportunities better when one’s mind is productive. Notions such as acceptance and openness can decrease conflicts and promote peace (Maglione, 2020). Each individual perceives facts differently, making reality fit into their personal context.
Four Core Elements That Drive Perspective Transformation
It is essential to comprehend that people’s views stem from highly personal factors rather than objective reality. For an individual’s perspective to be transformed, one must see the necessity of such a shift (Ness & Strong, 2015). Therefore, this process requires a person to envision a possibility of a different situation.
The first element of the discussed transformation is creativity, which allows people to perceive other modes of thinking that can benefit them (Ness & Strong, 2015). Considering how one’s situation or behavior could have worked in one’s favor if one’s thought processes were set on a different path is a challenging yet vital step. The second element in this process is being open to changing one’s mind (Ness & Strong, 2015). Despite envisioning an alternative approach, a person must be able to weigh in on all the benefits and hindrances that it entails. In addition to comprehending different points of view, a person needs to be able to incorporate them into their thought processes.
The next element of the transformation is seeking alternatives that can replace the existing structure within one’s mind with a better solution (Ness & Strong, 2015). Assessing possible outcomes from a shift in perception requires much inspiration. The last part of the perspective transformation is one’s ability to reflect upon the validity and significance of such changes (Ness & Strong, 2015). Decisions and their outcomes must be measured and compared with other possible paths that could have occurred. The interconnectedness of these aspects highlights that taking a different perspective on a subject is challenging, yet it is not an impossible task.
References
Burns, C. J., & Sinko, L. (2021). Restorative justice for survivors of sexual violence experienced in adulthood: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 340-354. Web.
Hadar, N., & Gal, T. (2023). Survivors’ paths toward forgiveness in restorative justice following sexual violence. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Web.
Jokinen, H. (2020). Solving moral conflicts. Case restorative justice in domestic violence cases. Contemporary Justice Review, 24(2), 155–171. Web.
Maglione, G. (2020). Restorative justice policy in context: A legal-archaeological analysis. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law, 35(2), 493–517. Web.
Natali, L., & Hall, M. (2021). A green criminological approach to environmental victimization and reparation. In L. Centemeri, S. Topçu, & J. P. Burgess (Eds.), Rethinking post-disaster recovery: Socio-anthropological perspectives on repairing environments (pp. 161-181). Routledge.
Ness, D. W., & Strong, K. H. (2015). Restoring justice: An introduction to restorative justice (5th ed.). Elsevier.