Reframing - How Perception is "Reality"

A while ago, when I worked for a big consulting firm, there was a phrase that people kept using: “Perception is Reality”.  The mantra was spouted by Subjectivists (people who believe that what they perceive is just one perspective on reality) and irritated the Objectivitists (people who think that what they perceive is Reality – “and there’s no two-ways about it”).  I believe that the Subjectivists have a more powerful approach in the long term.

I was reminded of this difference by my Google Quote of the Day:

“Say what you will about the Ten Commandments, you must always come back to the pleasant fact that there are only ten of them.” – HL Mencken

Which is a classic “reframing”, and reminds me to work with the most powerful “frame” I can create.  And then by a curious coincidence, the Google Buddhist Thought for the Day seems to relate to this subject as well:

“While the Tathagata (Buddha), in his teaching, constantly makes use of conceptions and ideas about them, disciples should keep in mind the unreality of all such conceptions and ideas. They should recall that the Tathagata, in making use of them in explaining the Dharma always uses them in the semblance of a raft that is of use only to cross a river. As the raft is of no further use after the river is crossed, it should be discarded.”  – Buddha

Which reminds me to let go of the frame when it is no longer useful, and find a more powerful one.

P.S. If all this talk about frames and framing is confusing to you – or you’re wondering why I mention it on this Project Leadership Blog, then I’d strongly recommend downloading the “7 Secrets of Project Leadership” document from our web site.

– Philip Greenwood

Tags:  Project+Leadership