```table-of-contents ``` --- ![[perception-camerman.png]] The image was created by Andrew Kidd using [Playground AI ](https://playground.com). # tl;dr In this note, I'm inviting you to pause for a moment and consider what it is that you're not noticing right now, and the impact that might be having on your view of the world, and perhaps your life. It's big stuff. Let me know in the comments if I achieved this. # Who is pulling your focus? Like me, I suspect you typically jump up after watching a film and prepare to leave as the credits roll. But if I've enjoyed the movie, I also like to enjoy the credits. Occasionally, this is a spot of [FOMO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_missing_out) brought about by watching too many Marvel films with post-credits scenes, each building the excitement towards the climactic conclusion of the [MCU adventure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe). But I mostly like to sit and privately congratulate and thank those involved in the movie's creation. One evening, I noticed a role in the credits that stood out to me: that of the [focus puller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_puller). So I read a little about the role and their contribution and was fascinated by the level of this person's attentiveness. I had naively thought this was wrapped up in the camera's operation and might be done by a single person on the fly. The more I thought about this, the more the parallels with our perception struck me. It may be because I'm enjoying a mindfulness course (Williams & Penman, 2012), so I'm paying attention to my experience. I'm also naturally reflective as a [highly sensitive person (HSP)](https://hsperson.com) and calibrated through my coaching practice and supervision. Either way, I'm starting to see a need to revisit the first principles and definitions of what I want to write about to ensure my camera is securely planted on firm ground, pointing in the right direction, framing the topic and focusing where I need attention to be. This raises the question of who (or what) is pulling our focus. What causes us to pay attention to some things and not others? How much control do we have over this? And what impact does this have? # Perception as a process >"We do not think and talk about what we see; we see what we are able to think and talk about." - (Schein, 2013) >"As a rule we perceive what we expect to perceive what we expect to perceive... the unexpected is usually not received at all... seen or heard but ignored... mis-seen as the expected" - (Drucker, 2015) We look at reality through lenses—our definitions of things—which, like the camera crew, offer some choices. If the lens through which I’m viewing reality is affecting reality itself in a way that is not congruent with my commitment, I could change my definition (the lens) instead of trying to change reality. One of a coach's jobs is to make these lenses apparent so clients can choose to see if they are working for them. I found that the first step towards working with a lens is to accept that I have one and then understand where I’m pointing it. I invite you to try this experiment before reading on. Take the [basketball awareness test on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB_lTKZm1Ts). How did you do? The effect you’ve just observed is what cognitive psychologists call sustained inattentional blindness (Simons & Chabris, 1999). And the good news is that now you have a handle on it, you have a choice. # The ABC model This model is based on the idea that life presents a scene (A), which a camera would record, and to which we perform some interpretation (B), which causes us to react (C) through our emotions, body sensations and impulses (Sarracino et al., 2017). The researchers found that we tend to react (C) to a situation (A) without ever pausing to inspect our reasoning (B). >"We think that the situation itself aroused our feelings and emotions when, in fact, it was our interpretation of the scene that did this. It's as if the world were a silent film on which we write our own commentary." - (Williams & Penman, 2012. P.135) I believe that our ability to choose comes from an awareness of the options available, which is foundational to our empowerment. And so I'll leave you with a few final thoughts to consider and invite you to step into your power. - What is it that you’re currently not noticing? - Are your lenses serving you as well as they might? - And if they’re not, what would? # Related thoughts - [[Ladder of Inference]] # Credits and Resources - Drucker, P. F. (2015). _Technology, management & society: Essays_ (First issued in hardback). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0434903965](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0434903965) - Relevant ideas from [this source](https://informalcoalitions.typepad.com/informal_coalitions/2009/02/drucker-on-communication-in-organizations.html#:~:text=%22We%20perceive%2C%20as%20a%20rule,%2Dseen%20as%20the%20expected.%22): - **Communication is expectations** - **Communication is involvement** - **Communication and information are different and largely opposite - yet interdependent** - Sarracino, D., Dimaggio, G., Ibrahim, R., Popolo, R., Sassaroli, S., & Ruggiero, G. M. (2017). When REBT Goes Difficult: Applying ABC-DEF to Personality Disorders. _Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy_, _35_(3), 278–295. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-016-0258-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-016-0258-7) - Schein, E. H. (2013). _Humble inquiry: The gentle art of asking instead of telling_ (First edition). Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Inquiry-Instead-Telling-Leadership/dp/1609949811](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Inquiry-Instead-Telling-Leadership/dp/1609949811) - Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (1999). Gorillas in our midst: Sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events. _Perception_, _28_(9), 1059–1074. [https://doi.org/10.1068/p2952](https://doi.org/10.1068/p2952) - Williams, J. M. G., & Penman, D. (2012). _Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world_ (Repr.). Piatkus. [https://amzn.eu/d/4nFQ78N](https://amzn.eu/d/4nFQ78N) # Published - 2024-08-29 - [Perception - by Andrew Kidd - Daring Diaries](https://daringfutures.substack.com/p/perception) - [Tweet](https://x.com/coachkidd/status/1829136347958784028) - Facebook - [Personal](https://www.facebook.com/andrew.kidd.coach/) - [Daring Futures](https://www.facebook.com/daringfutures/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7234899709625061376/) - [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/588704982573975270)