The Data Gatherers

What you see is not necessarily what you are seeing. The data gathering senses are not perfect in their job. The older we get the more we understand that fact. The aging process can take a toll on the senses; we may not hear as good or see as well. Our smeller and our taster may even begin to let us down. Research has shown that eye witness testimony is not always accurate. A group of people are shown a car accident. After the viewing they are asked to discribe what they saw. No two people saw exactly the same thing. In fact, some of the "eye witnesses" seemed to hardly see the accident at all.

The data gatherers, the senses, are a critical element in the living process. An event occurs and we know that it happened because our senses bring in the sights, smells, tastes, sounds and textures of the situation. The brain begins to process the data, to interpret it and make assignments with regard to meanings. The event is simply that, an event. It has no power, no meaning, no particular effect until the brain swings into motion with the thinking process. Once the data is calculated, thinking is everything.

What Causes Feelings and Behaviors?

Now hear this! Events, circumstances, situations and instances do not, I repeat, do not cause an individual to do or feel anything. She/he/they made me feel/say/do is in no way, form or fashion true. It is emphatically false. Why? Because events have no cause without interpretation, perception or perspective. In order for one to have emotions about an event or circumstance there must be (1) data gathered about the event through the five senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, seeing) and (2) thinking about the data that is gathered. Once thinking occurs there will be emotion and behavior. Quite simple, really.