Perception, Interpretation and Assumption: Creating Gossip

Perception, Interpretation and Assumption: Creating Gossip

The Evil that is Gossip (Part 2)

One of the primary things that fuels gossip is the relationship between perception, interpretation and assumption. I have had conversations with many different people and the one thing that’s common when they started talking about others is: they in their Minds perceive another’s behaviour, then interpret it according to their own ideas / opinions of the particular behaviour and from there assume their perception and interpretation is correct because they believe their references in the Mind more than actually walking the space and time process of getting to know a person.

So, if you take a step back within yourself and access some memories (or simply observe your mind when you’re around other people) – within this having a look at the processes unfolding within your thinking / internal conversations when watching others: you’ll see how you’ll watch someone talk / move / do something, then slightly or overtly react to them, then in your mind’s eye ‘see’ a projection/imagination that encapsulates the overall ‘image’ of the person and then you’ll start creating an experience towards them based on your emotional / feeling reaction. From here, depending on the reaction being positive or negative and depending on what data/information/memories/programming you have already within your Mind – thoughts, backchats etc. will start activating. Here, your Mind is starting to create a relationship with the person based on emotion, based on feelings, based on data/information/memories/programming of your Consciousness.

For most part we have observed that people will approach / respond / simply stay away from people based on this platform in the Mind which constantly decides on the relationship with another based on perception, interpretation and assumption. Where individuals aren’t even aware of how little they ASK questions to another person, but in fact reference this perception-interpretation-assumption equation in the Mind where either positive and/or negative things will accumulate and as time passes – if the result is more positive, the person will continue a relationship, if more negative, the person will slowly but surely distance themselves.

So, it’s to for yourself see how this particular programming of your Consciousness operates. Referencing / believing this initial ‘assessment’ of a person in your Mind more than actually asking them questions, having conversations, spending time together and getting to know them – is causing a separation within humanity where you have so many people in very few relationships, both partnership and platonic and so many people who have no relationships at all. Where they either isolated themselves from people because of this programming or have been the unfortunate ones of being on the receiving end of this programming and others simply never gave them the opportunity to get to know them as a person.

I have met people who would go so far as compromising so much of themselves, just to portray an image / personality for others to keep everyone else’s minds happy – where they became astute at being able to assess what other people’s minds expect of them or likes / dislikes / prefers and accordingly moulded themselves to be able to please everyone’s (or as many as possible) minds. This primarily coming from and because of the gossip of others – but even then, despite these efforts, other people’s minds manages to conjure up gossip about one thing or another. Many people do this with awareness – maintaining relationships with others because of the fear of gossip, but do not have any other way of interacting with others and so base their relationships on keeping everyone else happy, while diminishing / limiting themselves…

In this, many people face a conundrum: if you are different – you’ll be isolated / ostracised and many depend on their relationships outside of the work environment, for example, when socialising, doing sports activities / extracurricular activities etc. If you are / do something that fuels gossip, it spreads, it affects your relationships, your general experience of yourself – but not only that, most of the people who’d gossip you may not even know and do not have or are not given the opportunity to share your side of things and so everyone is left to their own Minds, their own assumptions of you and you are powerless to do anything about it.

So…what do we do? What’s the solution?

In the next post we’re going to have a look at how we as individuals can take personal responsibility first and foremost: see where within yourself you accept and allow this programming and participate in the perception, interpretation and assumption programming within yourself when observing other people. This so that you can for yourself see the extent to which you do this to yourself, as well as others in not giving them the opportunity to share who / why / how they are and in so doing – separating you from others in your own Mind with believing your own perceptions, interpretations and assumptions more than actually getting to know a person.

From here, we’ll also have a look at what we can do to assist and support ourselves to find a balance in our lives – being aware and considerate, yes, of who we are in thought, word and deed but at the same time not accepting and allowing self to live in fear of gossip or other people’s thoughts / reactions towards you. Obviously being cautious of now wanting to rebel / go to the extreme of “I don’t care what other people think of me” and live in absolute disregard of others – herein we’ll open up the dimension of self-honesty and one’s starting point in thought, word and deed and how important this is in interacting and building relationships with other people, because if you’re going to take an emotional / rebellious stance of “I don’t care / give a shit” – this will obviously create manifested consequence in your life and relationship with others…

We’ll continue more in the next post…