Perceptions, Opinions, and Judgments

We often pass judgments that are based on our opinions about other people and objects.

Opinions are formed according to our perceptions - the way we look at things.

Perception is based on past experience or the limited information we receive.

Giridhari Lal covered a distance of 10 miles in one hour.

Banvaari Lal covered the same distance in one and a half hours.

Which of the two is faster and healthier?

Obviously, our answer will be Giridhari Lal.

But, what if we say that Giridhari Lal covered this distance on a prepared smooth track - 

while Banvaari Lal did it by running on an unpaved - unsteady, rocky path?

Then our answer will be Banvari Lal.

But when we come to know that Giridhari Lal is 75 years old while Banvaari is young - only 25 years old.

Then our answer will again shift to Giridhari Lal.

And then again - when we find out that Banvari's weight is 140 kg, while Giridhari's weight is only 60 kg - 

our answer might shift to Banvaari again.

As we learn more details about Giridhari Lal and Banvaari Lal - based on the new additional information - our perception, the way we look at this incident changes.

Consequently, our opinions and judgments about who is better and faster - will also keep on changing.

The same principle applies in all other fields of life as well.

More than often, we form opinions about people and things casually and hastily - based on a single or a few quick observations. Therefore, we are unable to do justice to anyone - including ourselves.

Before forming opinions and passing judgments, we should try to look at the whole picture - by collecting more valid and credible information. 

                             ' Rajan Sachdeva '