Is Seeing Believing?

The old adage seeing is believing needs to be revised.

Our expectations and our beliefs actually shape how we interpret the world.

It’s a common saying: “Seeing is believing.” We tend to think of it as a sign of reality, that our beliefs are only as solid as what we can experience directly. However, new research is showing that this old adage is not entirely true. Instead of seeing informing our beliefs, it’s actually the other way around. Our beliefs and expectations shape how we interpret and make sense of the world we see in front of us.

This isn’t to say that we should jump to conclusions without solid evidence. Instead, it’s a reminder that our perspective has an impact on what we interpret.

For example, if someone has a belief that they are unlovable, they may tend to interpret things others say or do as meaning they are indeed unlovable. On the other hand, someone with the belief that they are lovable may interpret the same things as a sign that they are loved.

It’s also important to highlight the power of expectations.

If you expect something to happen, you may find yourself subconsciously looking for evidence that confirms it.

For example, if you expect a colleague to be rude, you may find yourself looking for evidence to confirm those…