Merriam-Webster defines delusion as “a belief that is not true; a false idea.”
Being tagged as delusional can carry a negative connotation, but delusions can also breed positive outcomes, allowing a person to self-define in a way that could allow them to step out of their behavioral wheelhouse and reinvent themselves.
On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Bob Duke and Dr. Art Markman sit down with KUT’s Rebecca McInroy to explore human perception, how we objectively measure reality and how perception can sometimes lead to delusion.
When you get down to it, much of human existence is delusional. We use our imaginations to fill in meaning, value, expectations and definitions around a small sliver of what we observe in our surroundings. Our mental state is based on how we choose to define and perceive our circumstances.
Two people in the same exact circumstances could choose to perceive the situation very differently: one could be happy while the other is miserable. It all comes down to the values you choose to assign to different things in your situation.
It’s an amazing gift and a wonderful tool to learn to wield. Ultimately, all perception is completely subjective and can be infinitely debated for accuracy. And as Art points out, accuracy is overrated!
