TODAY -
✦



E-Pao! Essay - My Perception and I

My Perception and I

By: R.B. Thohe Pou *



It is only my perception that makes me to hate or love someone or something; infact no man or nothing is good or bad in this world – it simply is. It is my projection that I projected something good or bad. I may be born in a rich or poor family but my future life decide on my projection, perception, attitude, approach, concept, pre-concept, understanding, interest and desires. My parents, friends or environment cannot decide my present or future life. It is my perception that the world is a good place to dwell or miserable place to dwell. It is through my understanding and attitude that I can change my wrong projection and perception about someone or something. Do you know who you are or what you are? Are you the master of none or are you the master of everything? How do we approach a situation or perceive a thing or man? Our life is mold by our perception, attitude, approach, concept and pre-concept, understanding, interest and desires.

It is very important how I approach or project the people or to a situation. My positive or negative thoughts come from my projection, perception or pre-concept. There were two sons in a family. Their father drinks everyday and fight with all the family members. The elder son follows the footstep of his dad and drink everyday as he grows up. One day, someone asked him, "Why do you drink everyday"? My father was like that and how can I be different from him? The younger son never drinks and he was not like his brother or father. Someone asked him, "Why you never boozed like your elder brother and father"? He said, "I am not happy with my father who always drink and fought with all the family members; I don't want to be like him." It is his projection, understanding and perception on his dad that made him to change his life. He was convinced that if he would be like his dad, other people would dislike associating with him.

When we perceive something in our mind, it continues to linger in our mind till we develop a constructive or negative projection. Whatever we do - whether we do good or bad, our understanding, perception, projection or pre-concept etc decide what to do. We may be very poor but the situation or environment cannot make us richer. It is our only positive projection, attitude, perception and approach (PAPA) that will make us richer in our hearts. We may be from a rich family but our lives may be miserable like the poorest in the world with our wrong PAPA. Man's ends are unlimited and it cannot be content with our richness with our wrong projection, attitude, perception and understanding. Suppose you find a beautiful dress and you want to purchase it. But when you observed it and re-examined, nothing is special in that dress but only the latest fashion. The quality of the dress material is ordinary and not durable - then you think that this dress deceived your eyes and heart. Nobody has deceived you. Your mind projected – the dress is good and so you purchased it. One day a person may perceive a beautiful thing; another day the same person may perceive a thing very ugly. It is our projection, perception and understanding that the whole thing around us is beautiful or ugly.

The situation or environment is similar to all the people in this world. Our projection, attitude, perception, approach or pre-concept makes us sad or happy. Who is perfect in this world? Everybody encounter the problem – the rich or the poor man. The people from a developed country like, UK or US or from a third world country like India or Pakistan - they have the problem to be solved. Our right projection, perception, approach and attitude only can help to solve the problem or overcome a difficult situation. When people have right approach, attitude, projection and perception to the situation or environment, a difficult situation or environment cannot make a person's life ordinary or meaningless. Some time we may no be able to solve the problem immediately but our right attitude, approach, perception and projection can solve or remove the problem in our mind. Where is the problem lies? Can you see the problem or touch the problem? Many people thought that the problem is the biggest problem in their lives; they want to remove the problem by their hand or with something. But can you remove the problem by your hand, which you cannot be touched? Problem cannot be touched by hand but feel only in our heart. So something cannot be touched by hand cannot be removed by our hand. Many times problem lies only in your projection, perception, understanding, mind and pre-concept. Can we touch our perception, understanding and attitude? If not, we cannot remove the problem by our hand. Everywhere there is problem and we will encounter the problems. The problems or difficulties can be changed by our projection, perception, attitude and approach. It is easier to change our PAPA than changing or removing the problems. When we change our PAPA, the problem is automatically vanishes.

Our success in our works depends on our PAPA. It is not only the rich people who will be successful in this world. Anybody who has the right PAPA will be succeeding in life. It is the PAPA that makes a man's life different from others. There was a man selling the balloon on the roadside. A boy came and asked the man, "Will this black balloon fly very high like the red balloon?" Then the man told him, "It is not the red color balloon that can fly very high but the Neo gas which is inside the balloon." Likewise it is not the people from a good background or environment but the PAPA of a man makes successful in life. We may be from a royal family but without having the right PAPA, we cannot face the world and become a successful man. People who blame the situation or environment have wrong projection, attitude, perception and approach. If we are failed today, tomorrow we can be a successful man with our right PAPA. People with wrong PAPA will be always a failure. We are failed not because of the situation or environment but we have got the wrong projection, attitude, perception and approach. We cannot blame the situation and environment for our failure in life.

We may be optimistic about our future lives. But we will be pessimists when we do not change our wrong PAPA. We may be full of confidence and optimistic about our lives but we cannot face the failures and problems without the right PAPA. Every one encounters the problems and failure in life and once we face all the problems and failures, we will loss all our confidence and optimism without the right PAPA. The problems are created due to our wrong projection, attitude, perception and approach and the problems can be solved with our right PAPA. Our whole life is mold by our projection, attitude, perception and approach. It is impossible for a man to suicide when he/she changes the wrong PAPA to right PAPA.

We may be in a same or similar environment or situation but one day our life is beautiful and another day it becomes meaningless because we change our projection, attitude, perception and approach. It is not the situation, environment or problem that makes us our live ordinary or special. Our right PAPA is very crucial - with our wrong PAPA can make us defeat or paralytic. We may appreciate and inspired by someone, while other people may not like and uninspired; it is only our projection or perception on some one. The sunset looks beautiful to one person; and to another, sad. And to another it does not matter. In everybody's live, there is something special and beautiful that needs to be dug out. Many people may not like an ugly and poor guy but there is something beautiful in him and he can be very helpful to many. Your right and constructive PAPA on him will make lots of difference on him. A girl may be very beautiful and helpful according to your projection but to someone she may not be beautiful and helpful. It is because we have different projection, perception and approach on her.

For some people defeat is the greatest enemy and saddest thing and they may want to end their lives due to defeatism. But for the people with different projection, attitude, perception and approach may not be the greatest enemy. For a man with right PAPA – it is the best time to learn the causes of the defeat and accept the defeat. Osho-Rajnesh was a bit notorious when he was young and he loves to play and talk in the class. One day, his teacher told him to get out from the class and stand in the corridor (varender). His teacher made him to stand outside the class as a punishment but he loves to stand outside and watch the beautiful scene so it was not the punishment for him in his heart. Here the point is that it is our projection, attitude, perception and approach that a man thinks the punishment or problem very big or small or no problem and no punishment. A person who cannot accept the defeat cannot overcome the defeat.

The victorious people always accept the defeat with their right projection, attitude, perception and approach. But the people who do not want to accept the defeat will defeat themselves. The people, who cannot accept their mistakes, defeat, problem and failures with right PAPA cannot subdue and handle the situations. Accept all the people and everything around you as it is with your right approach, attitude, projection and perception and it will good as it is. To deal any kinds of situations, people, problems, defeat or success, everything is depend on our projection, attitude, perception and approach. Our right PAPA on man and everything around us will make our live different in a special way. It is our projection, attitude, perception and approach that will mold our live what we want to be.

We can use different perspectives but it is possible only when we put into practice in our real life. Some of the people use only the first perspective without taking into consideration the second and third perspectives. When we have only the first perspective, everything becomes good or bad depending on our first perspective; we may also snub the important aspects too but when we take the second and third perspective, the situation changes. When we want to change a situation, problem or anything, we should never conclude from that first perception or perspective. Many times our first perception or perspective can be derived from our preconception, misconception, misunderstanding etc; one needs to practice using different perceptions or perspectives on different situations or man. You can definitely live a better life when you have right PAPA and start using different perceptions or perspectives in dealing the things or man around you. Put into practice today and I wish you to live a better life.


Author's Note: This article is extracted from my upcoming book, "For a Better Living" and dedicated to all my readers. This was written in 2004 and experimented in the last 4 years and the above PAPA concept is very helpful in dealing with different situations and people.

* R.B. Thohe Pou contributes regularly to e-pao.net.
The writer can be contacted at thohepou(at)rediffmail(dot)com. This article was webcasted on September 12th, 2008


* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #2 : Gallery
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2026 : Timeline
  • Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy : Obituary
  • Tale of Ahu, Alang & Apapang: Amur Falcon
  • Consumerism :: Poem
  • Condemns Khamenlok Killings
  • Humble Appeal to All Concerns
  • Envious of the Chief Minister
  • Delivering a powerful point
  • Catholic Valley Schools Sports #1: Gallery
  • When the extraordinary becomes ordinary
  • The Map We Chose :: Poem
  • Dhakeswar Potsangbam : ToI Wellness Award
  • Nigeria calls on world to turn AMR pledges
  • Understanding the pressure students face
  • Training on Mushroom at Khagempali
  • Pointing finger of accusation
  • Digital Revolution & MK Binodini Devi
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #15
  • Letter From A Lost Crony :: Poem
  • Procedural lapses in dismissal of Dr Bimol
  • Manipur Sanaleibak (The Golden land)
  • Training on Seismic Hazard @MU
  • 2026 edition of Hnahsin Kut
  • Oncology & Neurosurgery OPD launched
  • Yaoshang Thabal Competition #5: Gallery
  • Orchids of Manipur
  • Pharmacists: A misunderstood profession
  • Vision Service Week at Ibotonsana School
  • Drone Tech Bootcamp at NIT Meghalaya
  • Athokpam Krishnakanta : World 2% Scientist
  • No Solution Without Identifying "Kuki"
  • Stands in Solidarity with Prof Bimol
  • Taking the idea of Manipur to Senapati
  • Yumjao Lairembi Haraoba #3: Gallery
  • 'Enoong Ngallamdai' :: Movie Review
  • VanDyke Release: Diplomacy or US pressure
  • Mental Health Awareness at High Court
  • 2026 NAMA Research Grant [Upd]
  • Fermented food for beauty
  • Mizoram Targets 5-7% Tourism Share
  • The hills continue to burn
  • Hearthside Story of Naothingkhong #2
  • Between Delhi Power & Valley's Protagonists
  • The Zeliangrongpui at a crossroad
  • Mushroom Cultivation Training at Konthoujam
  • Break from within :: Poem
  • White Canes to Govt Ideal Blind School
  • Concerned: Conflict - Yimkhiung & Tikhir
  • Mizoram Travel Fest 2026
  • Condolence : Kh Armstrong Charang
  • Turning Imphal into a dumping site
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #2: Gallery
  • When prime-time spectacle replaces priorities
  • For a new world organization for peace
  • Intl Day for Disaster Risk Reduction @MTU
  • Solidarity with Professor Angomcha Bimol
  • Intl Day for Disaster Reduction @Wangkhei
  • Condemns Barbaric Killings
  • Schools, roads, power & water supply
  • 'Meeyamgi Khollao Khongchat' #2 : Gallery
  • RIST Talk #76: Gravitational-Wave
  • Breast cancer month, October, 2026
  • Free Screening of "Ishanou"
  • Unlocking potentials of 7 horticultural crops
  • Skies and me :: Poem
  • Eramdam hanna kanbiyu
  • The hills, the SoO camps
  • Mera Chaorel Houba @ Kangla #1 : Gallery
  • China's Mayor Economy
  • My muse :: Poem
  • Condemns Killings & Beheading of Civilian
  • Who doesn't do Vote Chori ?
  • EZE Perfumes Enters Northeast
  • One to one meet with PM
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #14
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #3 : Gallery
  • Humlennganba, Saka : Eming
  • Two interviews, one empty table
  • A landscape of silence :: Poem
  • NSS Runathon for Peace 2026
  • Gender equality- central to diplomatic leaders
  • Manipuri Calendar for year 2027 : Download
  • Meiteilon not Tibeto-Burman language: Rvw
  • Visit to George Gordon's tomb at Canchipur
  • Anandkumar Naorem: World Top 2% Scientist
  • Protect the hills to protect the valley
  • Call for Papers on Manipuri Pony
  • Ashok Singhal Ji - A Karmayogi
  • Addressing the basics of life
  • 228th Bheigyachandra @Nabadwip #1: Gallery
  • Wildlife Week Celebration at Thanga
  • Evolving women's role in Manipur tourism
  • Where do we go from here ?
  • Training Programme on Mushroom
  • Festival look for Navratras
  • Condolence : Demise of Adino Phizo
  • Significant Delhi invite to 3 leaders
  • Heterogeneous Structure of Meitei Society
  • Concert @ 18th Orange Fest #1: Gallery
  • When water management was Statecraft
  • Who switched off the respect :: Poem
  • All is not yet lost for Manipur
  • Wildlife Conservation: Securing the Future
  • Exam : Post of Under Secretary (Law)
  • Understanding narco-terrorism
  • 1500 Burma Refugees Families in 1968-1973
  • 17th World Bamboo Day : Gallery
  • Land affected families: NH-202 in Ukhrul
  • Training Programme on PCB Repair
  • World Habitat Day 2026
  • AMR survivor & WHO call to protect medicines
  • Cut fuel taxes, not food
  • Creating chaos on roads of Imphal
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #1: Gallery
  • Manipuri Pony: Case for Animal Science Univ
  • Hemp plant for sustainable textile & Manipur
  • Flame of the lamp & our cultural sensibility
  • Without you :: Poem
  • Welcomes Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • On the growing roadside eateries
  • Naga Peace Process: Indo-Naga Talk: Timeline
  • 36 Names: Manipur at the Asian Games
  • Abok Ki Singju to Premiere
  • A vision fragmented by corruption :: Poem
  • Gandhi Ji's 3 monkeys and Manipur
  • AI-powered X-Rays are helping find TB
  • Mizoram Reward Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • 15 years in power Vs 10 years in power
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #13
  • US-Manipur Digital Archiving Workshop
  • 8th Cultural/ Freshers' Meet for Rongmei
  • The Same Smoke :: Poem
  • Supriya looks at HYROX World C'ships
  • AI4SEVA Hackathon @IT SEZ, Mantripukhri
  • 38th Foundation Day- NIELIT Imphal #2
  • Heikru Hidongba @Bijoy Govinda : Gallery
  • Manipur's Indigenous Natural Farming System
  • Basic human needs a struggle for Sinakeithei
  • Demise of Pame, Marinmai, Lianvela
  • When I met the pugilist Sarita
  • 38th Foundation Day of NIELIT Imphal #1
  • Mizoram's Anthurium Festival Returns
  • Poll fever seems to be catching up
  • My attempt - Meiteilon is not Tibeto-Burman
  • XXXII National Thang-Ta C'ship concluded
  • One Village One Product: A better alternative
  • When machines can answer, who will judge ?
  • Explain motive- Tronglaobi Terror Attack
  • Merger of 5 elected members of NPP
  • Namghar Unites Assam & Maharashtra
  • Trade and commerce : In a limbo
  • 130th Irawat Anniversary : Gallery
  • Lamyanba Irabot Day at Itanagar
  • Irabot's Ideals Remembered at Mumbai
  • Coffee as a sustainable alternative to poppy
  • Her Godname :: Poem
  • Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Rejoinder to NPCC
  • Need to get priorities right
  • Irawat and Meetei National question
  • XXXII National Junior Thang-Ta C'ship
  • World Heart Day 2026: Don't miss a beat
  • Science in everyday life
  • Nature Education Workshop
  • Rejoinder to Dr S C Jamir
  • Daslakshan Mahaparva: Festival of 10 supreme
  • Focus back on SoO camps
  • Raengdai Vs NEROCA : Durand Cup : Gallery
  • October Calendar for Year 2026 : Tools
  • Lebensraum or ethnic cleansing
  • World Alzheimer's Day 2026
  • Sensitization Workshop on POSH
  • Mourns Passing of Aribam Shantimo
  • Lecture on 'Indigenous Knowledge Systems'
  • Rejects allegations by NPCC President
  • The narrative Manipur needs
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #2
  • Laitonjam Rishikanta @ Asian Bodybuilding
  • First poster of Interlude released
  • In the womb of time :: Poem
  • Running an abnormal State
  • Khunung Eshei & Mukna competitions
  • Conference: Challenge in Sustainable Science
  • Rolling back the highway blockade
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #12
  • Manipur Mesopotamia Force WWI : Gallery
  • PhD in Manipur : Fund it, Fix it
  • Many Voices, One State: Manipur's dilemma
  • Me and Moon: Both do the night shift : Poem
  • Putting rights: Body autonomy & sexual health
  • Green Tea for beauty
  • Yaoshang Thabal @Khurai #2: Gallery
  • AI = Arangpham Intelligence, the Frankenstein
  • World Pharmacists' Day 2026
  • Tapes of 1979 Film 'Ashroy' Discovered
  • From Pangaea to the unpredictable Earth
  • In a Crooked Room :: Poem
  • Debt recovery should be done, but within law
  • Regionalism : New political flavour
  • Chali-Saba - Kang Ningol Palli #1: Gallery
  • Book Release: Exploring The Vanishing Self
  • The Echo After Forever :: Poem
  • The paradox of Kukiland
  • Dr Wairokpam Yaiphaba : Fulbright Fellowship
  • Essay, Painting & Speech Competitions
  • Manipur : Mixture of opposites
  • Naothingkhong & Pitanga #1: Hearthside Story
  • Meiteilon is still not a Tibeto-Burman language
  • 52nd Foundation Day of AMWJU : Gallery
  • The chokehold on Manipur's potential
  • Another Langban has com :: Poem
  • Ageing needs a gendered human rights
  • Mizoram's 2026 festival season opened
  • Inspect the SoO camps
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #2 : Gallery
  • lEkoLdugi warisiH :: Seireng
  • Can Strong Anti-Racism Law save NE Indians
  • Before Building a Viksit Bharat, Learning
  • Quality planting for Pineapple & Banana
  • Seminar: Career Options in Life Sciences
  • Fitclass Gym Moti Nagar Opens
  • Burning hills of Manipur
  • Culturals @Beating of Retreat #4 : Gallery
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #2 : Gallery
  • 17th World Bamboo Day 2026
  • 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly : Gallery
  • The 731, and those who may follow
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #11
  • Little Flower School, 1973 batch : Gallery
  • Bichu Kharibam: FIH Magic Skill Award
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #1
  • Ningol Phida - Shumang Leela #2 : Gallery
  • Study: Social Worker on Counselling Practice
  • India-Myanmar boundary : Mistakes of 1967
  • Radio E-pao: 5 new songs updated
  • Chiru Maroi : Scientific Documentation
  • Academic Administration Course @MU
  • To our star Tamo Vicky, Vikram Chongtham
  • Vice President visited Manipur : Gallery
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #1 : Gallery
  • Hiring @ 4-Star Hotel in Udupi
  • Ibudhou Pakhangba Haraoba #1 : Gallery
  • Protest by Researchers @DM Univ : Gallery
  • Meitei Esei
  • US Ambassador @ CM Mantripukhri : Gallery
  • Chongtham Vikram: Delhi Cannot Explain Away
  • A teacher does not leave when his classroom
  • 'Meeyamgi Khollao Khongchat' #1 : Gallery
  • Candle Light- Chongtham Vikram : Gallery
  • Manipuri Pony Heritage Talk to Students
  • Colonial records: Hill Areas, 1891-1947
  • Joint Resolution: Abrogation of SoO
  • Elimination of Racial Discrimination
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #1 : Gallery
  • Manipur Can Simply Be Manipur
  • PhD Admission at Assam University
  • Teachers' Day Celebration : Gallery
  • Census 2027 for Manipur deferred
  • Read Meitei Mayek news in romanized English
  • 24-hour Gen Strike (Sep 1) : Gallery
  • Panthoibi Anoi Khuthek #1 : Gallery
  • 48-hour General Strike by JFD #3 : Gallery
  • The flame of Haipou Jadonang
  • Kang Khichri Chaba #2 : Gallery
  • Relevance of NRC, 1951 for immigrants
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2026 #4: Gallery
  • The King Who Caught a Bird : Konthoupa
  • Meira Rally 'No NRC, No Census' : Gallery
  • 48-hour General Strike by JFD #2 : Gallery
  • 35th Manipuri Language Day, 20 August
  • The chappals we leave behind
  • Search 25 years of e-pao.net
  • Colonial Knowledge Production in NE India #23
  • 360° panoramic view of spots in Manipur
  • Final Merit List : Manipur Civil Services 2022
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #3
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #2
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #1