Anaïs Nin said, “People don’t live life as it is, they live life as they are” - as they perceive life through the filter of their perceptions, which are based on their attitudes, assumptions, even their expectations. Perceptions aren’t just thoughts, they are a special kind of thought. Perceptions are the meanings, the interpretations, placed on our experiences - the things we see, hear, taste, touch, think and feel.  Perceptions - the way we interpret facts - control our circumstances and, ultimately, our reality.

James Allen opined that people “…are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they there-fore remain bound.”

That is pretty heady stuff!  What binds us?  Our current perception of reality.  Lucky for us, perceptions can change.  Once they change, reality does too.  Remember, change can be positive or negative, constructive or destructive.  It can all start with one small event. 

We’ve just read another excellence excerpt from the book Beyond Illusions.  I know it’s the 3rd day in a row…but hey, I just love this book!

What follows is the testimony of a recent reader!

I got a copy of Brad’s book; it is simply enchanting. I highly recommend it to everyone. Brad’s conversational style of writing makes for an easy read. You will enjoy Brad’s wit and wisdom; he’ll make you laugh and cry.

I have read Brad’s book many times and I always come away with a new insight that has enriched my life. The book is also full of wonderful quotes-many are Brad’s and they never fail to inspire.

One of my favorite chapters and concepts is Aubrey’s (one of Brad’s daughters) “Poisonberry Perspective” on page 35. What a wonderful insight that Brad gained from his daughter; I think of this concept frequently and it has improved my relationship with everyone I come in contact with.

I could go on and on about the wonderful insights and lessons Brad’s book offers. But my advice is to get a copy for yourself and a few extra copies for friends and associates. Yes, it’s that good; you’re gonna want to share it! ~ Tom Yates

The response to yesterday’s T4D excerpt from Brad Barton’s wonderful book “Beyond Illusions” was tremendous.  One readers comment will follow today’s shorter excerpt from this same wonderful book.

(Beyond Illusions p41 - from perhaps my favorite chapter titled “It was SNOT a Bad Deal)   Shakespeare wrote, “There is nothing good nor bad but thinking makes it so.”  I suggest similarly that there is nothing good or bad but perception makes it so - and if I decide that a ‘bad’ situation is actually in some way ‘good’ - then it is.  Real magic is our ability to change.  To turn a bad deal into a good deal simply by changing the way we look at it.  That is the power of positive perception; and it is powerful magic. 

I didn’t intentionally choose my new perception.  Life handed it to me as a gift, and I accepted.  I would never have consciously decided to change my perception about getting slobbered on.  I certainly never would have thought it a “gift”!  However, when it happened, I accepted it and my life was made richer for it.  If life has the power to do this by chance, isn’t it possible for you and I to do it on purpose? 

Stephen Covey says it this way, “It isn’t what happens to us that affects our behavior.  It is our interpretation of what happens to us.  And when we can learn to get a better paradigm - get to a different level of thinking - then we are on the road to significant improvement.”  He calls this the essence of self-determination.

I call it the Power of Positive Perception. 

T4D reader Tom Yates left this comment yesterday about Brad’s book, Beyond Illusions.

I got a copy of Brad’s book; it is simply enchanting. I highly recommend it to everyone. Brad’s conversational style of writing makes for an easy read. You will enjoy Brad’s wit and wisdom; he’ll make you laugh and cry.

I have read Brad’s book many times and I always come away with a new insight that has enriched my life. The book is also full of wonderful quotes–many are Brad’s and they never fail to inspire.

One of my favorite chapters and concepts is Aubrey’s (one of Brad’s daughters) “Poisonberry Perspective” on page 35. What a wonderful insight that Brad gained from his daughter; I think of this concept frequently and it has improved my relationship with everyone I come in contact with.

I could go on and on about the wonderful insights and lessons Brad’s book offers. But my advice is to get a copy for yourself and a few extra copies for friends and associates. Yes, it’s that good; you’re gonna want to share it! ~ Tom Yates

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