Perceived Limitations: What If They’re Not What You Think?

At the back of our eyes there are two types of photoreceptors, rods and cones. These photoreceptors allow us to see light and color. 01 Rods detect light and dark, while cones detect color. There are three different colors that the cones detect, red, green, and blue. They all work together to give us the ability to see an entire spectrum of hues and tints. But, not all people have the same number of working (or even existing) 02 rods and cones. So, for example, what I might see as a light blue/green combination, someone else could see just blue, just green, or no color at all.

Think about that for a second. Two humans could literally look at the exact same thing and see it completely differently.

This little biology lesson about the human eye is a beautiful metaphor for human perception of boundaries and limitations. When we perceive a limitation, our beliefs and experiences help us form the image of what we are, and are not, capable of achieving. Our beliefs shape the picture of what is possible, and our experiences bring light and darkness into that picture to further define (for us) our ability to attain it. Once we understand that these are our receptors, we actually have the power to shift the image.

We can't help how well our cones and rods receive light and color; but we can certainly examine our beliefs and understand our experiences on such a deep level that suddenly what we once thought impossible seems inevitable.

Let's take an example that has been used in life coaching for a long time... money. One of the most lighthearted and effective books I have read on the subject is You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero. In the book she talks about the belief that many people have, "money is the root of all evil." That paints a pretty colorful picture about money. So let's go with it... imagine all the money in the world is at the back of a dark cave. The walls of the cave are a deep red color that, when the light hits it, looks almost like blood. Around the pile of cash flickers an orange hue that is being emitted from an impenetrable wall of fire.

Now, let's add experiences to that picture and really solidify that image. Let's say that, in the past, the only rich people you have ever known only got the money by scamming people in a major Ponzi scheme, by underpaying their employees and keeping all the profits for themselves, or by cheating on their taxes. That picture, for you, now has only three ways for you to bypass the fire and attain the money. You literally can't see any other way to the money because your experiences have told you that it is the only way.

Let's say that your values and moral compass tell you that those three ways to attain the money are evil. You've just reinforced your belief that "money is the root of all evil."

Now, you can't change your past experiences. So what can you change? You can change your belief, by changing your perspective. To continue our metaphor... let's say you are in that same cave and you take one step to the left. In doing so, the angle changes just enough for you to see a break in the flames. Maybe you were able to take that "one step to the left" because you realized that the same values and moral compass keeping you from attaining the money could also inspire you to create a new path. Perhaps you created new experiences by researching or getting to know people who have made a lot of money responsibly. Perhaps, you discovered that additional past experiences have caused emotional wounds that told you that you're not worthy of making a lot of money; and you took steps to heal those wounds.

Whatever it was that allowed you to take that "one step to the left" and see that the money was accessible, you now see the flames die away and the light in the cave brightens. Suddenly, you see that the walls were not, actually, blood red, but a rich vibrant sky blue. The belief that "money is the root of all evil" seems less likely to be true... after all.. you're not evil and the money is now yours.

Author Jen Sincero goes into much more detail about the common nuances of this particular belief in her book; but I encourage you to discover the nuances of your beliefs for yourself. Dig deep and ask yourself, "What beliefs are keeping me from attaining what I want?" Put anything you desire inside that cave, behind the fire wall, and ask yourself, "What do I need in order to take 'one step to the left' and see the path?"

You are a powerful creator. You don't have to let the beliefs and experiences that shape your image of what is possible continue to rule your actions. You get to create the image. You get to take action. It is possible.

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01 CJ Kazilek, Kim Cooper. (2010, January 06). Rods and Cones. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved June 29, 2023 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/rods-and-cones

02 David Turbert, Odalys Mendoza, MD. (2022, September 26). What Is Color Blindness? Retrieved June 29, 2023 from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-color-blindness