What’s on my mind today? Still perspective. For those of you following my post containing a mysterious picture where I asked whether it was a sunrise, sunset, moonrise, or moonset, here is the big reveal. I took the photo from a cliff, looking southeast toward San Simeon Cove. It was shortly after sunrise. If that’s what you guessed, you were among 63% of respondents who guessed correctly. Let’s consider some of the rationale people used, and how it relates to perspective.
We asked the question: “What did you notice first that shaped your interpretation?”
In my article, I noted Al Viller’s wise distinction between “perception,” a gut-level response, and “perspective,” a broader, fuller view. Al correctly guessed sunrise, though he admitted his “eternal optimism” might have tipped the scales.
Others had similar reactions. The photo conjured feelings.
“I saw that we can start each day fresh and make it the best we can.”
“The reflection … gave me the feeling of an early morning sunrise. I took a deep breath and smiled at the prospect of another lovely day.”
“Feels like this could be morning.”
What is at play here? What we see (and hear) evokes feelings, and those feelings shape our perception.
Another factor is at play, as shown by those who guessed differently. We judge based on past experience, even when our judgments aren’t universally true.
Those who guessed a sunset or a moonrise talked about visual elements: the sharpness of the light contrasted with the fog, the darkness of other elements like the trees, or the tide’s position. All of those things could exist at times of day other than sunrise – and likely have, in their own experience.
The guess itself doesn’t matter. What matters is what the guessing reveals. The same gut-level responses that shaped your guess also shape your real decisions. Awareness of our emotions (and the bias they can bring), along with recognizing that we see things as we know them to be, is a big first step toward broadening perspective.
Next time your gut answers fast, ask it why.
