The Windows To Your Mind’s Eye

On November 22, 2012November 22, 2012 By Sherna BhumgaraIn Human attributes; attitudes & behaviour, Music

“Imagine” – John Lennon

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

Imagine there’s no country
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one.

Perception and perspective are ‘the windows to our mind’s eye.’ These two elements, embedded deep in our psyche that complement each other in the manner in which we choose to view the world – determining, in this way, our disposition and standpoint to it.

Very few people realize that so much of how and what we view in and of the world depends largely on our perception of it. Perception implies the way we see things or people – it refers to looking at something from a mental point of view. Perspective, however, is our reaction or response to our perceptions – it refers to our outlook, mindset and overview of a particular thing, person, situation, event or topic. Our perception of the world affects, to a very large extent, our overall perspective – our emotions, moods, attitudes, opinions and behaviour. In a much larger context, it affects our character and personality too. In the widest possible context,  just as our own perspective of the world makes us react to circumstances in a certain way and predicts our attitudes and behaviour – in the same way, it also affects the perspective of how others view us. What it simply means is this – a happy and cheerful person is an optimist – he/she has smiles and laughter to spread around the world – happy people can and will make other people happy. It is a projection of their basic joy, positive-mindedness and benevolence on others.  However, people tend to shy away from unhappy, grumpy, complaining and negative-minded people – such pessimists tend to spread their gloom and negative outlook on others. Hence, it is often said that – “Smile and the world will smile with you; cry and you cry alone.” If an optimist sees a glass filled part way with water, he will be inclined to say it is half-full – a pessimist will tend to proclaim that the glass is half-empty. It is all a matter of perception and perspective, at the end of the day, isn’t it?

Let us suppose that I’ve had a bitter disagreement with a close friend of mine, causing all channels of communication, between us, to effectively close down. I feel sometimes that I would dearly love to slap her. I urge myself to believe that she is the epitome of meanness and nastiness and that I hate her. This is perception. However, later in moments of sanity and relaxation, I realize that I was at fault too. I ought to apologize to her and make amends for my inappropriate thinking and behaviour. I convince myself that it is my anger and resentment that makes her seem so hateful to me and that – actually – I love her and always will. I persuade myself to alienate myself from emotions of hatred – after all, hatred aids only in breeding contempt and further distance. I realize that it is my ego and pride that has been hurt and that I value this relationship much, much more than my injured ego. I change my demeanor accordingly and start being kinder and more receptive towards her. I reach out for love and receive love in return. That is perspective.

Consider this option  supposing one tries to cheer up a friend who is going through hard and difficult times by saying  – “Few people realize that at the end of a dark, winding, rutted and dusty road is a bright, straight and smooth path. At the end of the road is the wonderful sight of an exquisite rainbow.” This expression implies that, “every cloud has a silver lining” or similarly, “at the end of the tunnel is a light.” Think of the manner in which this sentiment was expressed – a dark, rutted, winding and dusty road implies a path of life that is full of crises, frustration, woes, difficulties and obstacles. An exquisite rainbow is a thing of immense beauty – it signifies hope, faith and trust – it implies a happy and fruitful solution to one’s problems. A rainbow signifies the end of the rains and with it the end of storms and destruction – it implies the end of one’s troubles and worries. If one’s perspective of a crisis-like situation is one of total negativity, it will affect, negatively, one’s attitude to it and the context in which we react to such problems and difficulties in Life.

Supposing there is a patch of land that is grimy, stony and dusty – an average person is likely to view that land as useless, barren and infertile. However, if an experienced farmer were to see the same land, he would be likely to state that the land has infinite promise – with enough time, perseverance and  diligence, it could be made to bear a good yield of crops and a fruitful harvest of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, a seasoned gardener might be inclined to reply that this self-same (so-called barren) land could be made to bear beautiful flowers, lush trees, thick hedges and it might even give way to a splendid, landscaped garden – under the right conditions and with the right amount of effort and sincerity that is put into it.

Some people say that, “Ignorance is bliss.” This could very well be true if a person is unwittingly told by a fortune-teller that he is going to die, very soon, in a horrifying plane-crash or if he/she is fore-warned that his/her family will be killed in a gruesome accident/ murder, in the near future. While many people crave to know details of their future – for e.g.  details of their marriage, their children, their wealth, their education, their career, their home, etc. They might be tempted to know the good elements that Life has to offer them in the future or they may want to know about illnesses and misfortunes that could afflict them or their near and dear ones. In this case, it might be right to say that “too much knowledge is a dangerous thing” because these negative predictions can prey greatly on one’s psyche, health and well-being. These people would rather not know anything of what destiny has in store for them in the future – they believe that they are the ultimate masters of their own fate and if and when misfortune comes their way, they will learn to deal with it appropriately, at that time. That is, again, a matter of perspective.

John Lennon (of “the Beatles” fame) wrote the song – “Imagine” – it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs ever written and should essentially be the anthem of the world. Lennon was not being unrealistic when he predicted an idealistic and ‘Utopian’ world – he felt that we should consciously strive to make this world a better place to live in –  make it a place where unity, peace, love and the brotherhood of man reign supreme. He envisaged the end of war, terrorism, crime, bitter strife and power-struggles between so many nations of the world – wars of futility, hatred and bitterness against one’s own kind – one’s own fellow-citizens. He suggested that there is no Heaven or Hell – it is what we make of our own lives that ultimately matters. Human beings are the masterpieces of their own destiny – it is our reaction to events and circumstances that determines our fate. Many people are using the excuse of religion to create further divisions, animosity and hatred among people – that orthodoxy and fundamentalism in society, as a whole, was increasing alarmingly. We ought to accept that we are all ruled by ONE Supreme Being – it does not matter what name we might choose to give Him. Why are we all so afraid of change? Change is not always for the worse, you know?  If we could all live as “one” – there would be no greed, poverty, misery and hunger on this planet. Let me ask you this – “Do you honestly think that Lennon was a ‘dreamer?'”  Well,  I can assure you that he most certainly was not. Such a happy and peaceful world, as he imagined it, exists only in our hopes and dreams – unless we choose to unite in changing our perspective of Life for the good and betterment of civilization, as a whole. It is not something that is going to happen miraculously or imminently – we have to make a deliberate effort to maintain goodness and righteousness within ourselves. This correct attitude of basic benevolence within us will affect the mindset of others similarly. Consequently, such a mythical, united world need no longer exist exclusively in the immensely beautiful and tranquil Gardens of Eden – the biblical Garden of Paradise – it can be made a distinct possibility on our Earth too. It is just a simple matter of  a correct change of  perspective. We need to make a deliberate effort to change our perceptions, predilections and prejudices to more acceptable behaviours –  we need to negate our previously held negative outlook, approach and demeanor. It is extremely important in the way you view the world.

Take my advice – one and all – open wide the windows to your soul – your soul is the essence of your mind’s eye. Try to forget that the air outside your window is stale, stagnant and heavy with pollution – instead take deep breaths and savour the refreshing, cool and fresh air. Feel invigorated, energized and revitalized like never before. Learn to live again – relish every moment of the change in your perception and perspective of Life. Believe me, it is nothing short of liberating!

Related articles

• Imagine (angiesgrapevine.wordpress.com)
• Epistles of John: ‘The John Lennon Letters’ (Review) (popmatters.com)
• John Lennon’s 72nd Birthday Celebrated, His Legacy Lives On (contactmusic.com)
• Imagine (John Lennon) (gonzalosp.wordpress.com)