This is really interesting and important to know how do we create our reality.
The way we create our thoughts is the knowledge we need to go further in self-improvement and learn to change more quickly and effectively.
We become more tolerant about others as we understand that everyone can have his own perception of reality as there are so many approximations in the way.
I propose a diagram to explain the main steps of the information processing:
1. The whole universe
This is all the information that we can receive in a specific moment and in a specific place. There is so many things that we can not process all of this.
2. The perception
3. Past experience filter
Once we have certain data from perception, a filtering process takes place as we recognize and understand things from our past experiences.
In the example: I recognize the sea, i know that’s normal to sink lightly into the wet sand.
4. Selection
Selection or sorting is an additional filter by what is most important for us in this situation. Some people could be more receptive about the atmosphere, others about the actions, others about other people around…
In the example: if I’m more receptive about the atmosphere, i will pay attention to the way that sea is calming me, the way I feel etc.
5. Representation
The steps from 2 to 4 are all kind of filter that reducing every time the quantity of data we receive from the whole experience.
The representation is the first neurological stage, which consists of creating a more structured information that can be easily processed by thoughts. The representation is based on the 5 senses and can take the form of an image, a sound, a taste, a smell and a sensation.
In the example: I can have an image created with what I see, the sound of the waves that I have identified from a past experience, a certain sensation of cold on my hand, and a feeling of relaxation from this peaceful atmosphere…
6. Thoughts
Thoughts are the second neurological stage. It is the transformation of the representation into words. There are many thought patterns that differ from a person to the other. It depends on our point of view, what we focus on and what is most important to us.
In the example: “I really need these moment of serenity, it is so important to me. It reminds me the time I felt the same way in the forest. I have to schedule these moment more often…”
7. Words
This is the first stage of the linguistic part. We use words and phrases to codify and express our thoughts.
First there are words that pop into your head like (sea, waves, iodine, relaxation…) and whole sentences like those written above in the chapter on thoughts.
8. Communication
Finally there is communication, which can take place with someone else or by talking to oneself.
In this second stage of linguistic part, there are other approximations that can lead to misunderstandings between people such as shortcuts, generalizations, unspoken things etc.
Wrap up:
- There are approximations on all steps
- 2 people can not get the same information out of a same experience
- The neurological and the linguistic part goes hand in hand
- This scheme is not only a one way path, from imagination (thoughts) we can go back to representation and then go down to different thoughts, words and communication.