Half Empty Or Half Full - Your Perceptions As A Reflection

When you looked at this image, did you see a glass that's half full, or half empty? Does it depend on the day? The person? Or does your answer change based on the situation you’re in when you’re asked?

If you’re feeling stressed, angry, overwhelmed, or resentful, you might be more likely to see it as half empty. If you’re feeling optimistic, happy, accomplished, or grateful, you might see it as half full. But here’s where it gets interesting, someone else might look at a “half-full thinker” and see them as naive or out of touch, while another person might see a “half-empty thinker” as negative or cynical.

The truth is, there is no absolute truth in perception, only interpretation. What we see in others, what we assume about them, is not fact, even when we’re convinced that it is. Our observations are filtered through our own experiences, beliefs, and biases. In many cases, we’re not just seeing reality as it is, we’re seeing a reflection of our own inner world. This is where perception and projection intersect.

A Little Sidestep to Perception & Projection:

Perception is how we interpret sensory information to make sense of the world. Projection, on the other hand, is a psychological defense mechanism where we unconsciously attribute our own thoughts, emotions, or traits to others. In simpler terms, we see in others what we carry within ourselves, whether we recognize it or not.

How Perception and Projection Intersect:

Subjective Reality: Our perceptions are not objective, they’re shaped by our past experiences, emotions, and subconscious programming. When we project our own thoughts, fears, or insecurities onto others, we are not necessarily seeing them as they are, we’re seeing them through our own internal lens.

Distorted Perceptions: Projection doesn’t just cause misunderstandings, it actively shapes how we interpret reality. If we assume others think, feel, or behave the way we do, we might misinterpret their actions, misjudge their intentions, or even create conflict where none actually exists.

Self-awareness: Recognizing projection helps us become more aware of our own biases and emotional triggers. When we pause and ask ourselves, “Am I reacting to them, or am I reacting to something in myself?” - we gain the ability to see situations more clearly and engage with others from a place of curiosity rather than assumption.

What You Dislike in Others May Be a Reflection of Yourself

You’ve probably heard the phrase, "What you dislike in others is a reflection of yourself." This concept is deeply tied to projection. Often, when we judge or feel irritated by certain traits in others, it’s because we recognize those same traits, consciously or unconsciously, within ourselves.

For example, if you often feel frustrated by people who are disorganized, it might be because you struggle with disorganization yourself or because you were raised in an environment where disorganization was unacceptable. Similarly, if someone’s arrogance triggers you, it may be reflecting an insecurity you hold about your own confidence or self-worth.

This doesn’t mean that every single frustration is projection. Some things genuinely go against our values or boundaries. But when something repeatedly triggers a strong emotional reaction, it’s worth asking:

"Am I reacting to them, or am I seeing something in them that I don’t want to acknowledge in myself?"

Projection doesn’t only apply to negative traits, it happens with positive qualities, too. If you admire someone’s confidence but feel you could never be that self-assured, you may actually be projecting your own untapped potential onto them.

The more we explore perception and projection, the more we realize that our reality is largely constructed internally, not externally. Understanding this allows us to step back, question our automatic reactions, and gain a more balanced, self-aware perspective of ourselves and others.

 Back to the Half Full Half Empty Glass: 

What led you to believe the glass was half empty or half full? Hard to immediately pinpoint, isn’t it? The challenge for most people isn’t just identifying what they believe it’s understanding why they react or respond the way they do and what underlying beliefs are driving those reactions.

Beliefs exist whether we are aware of them or not. They are powerful, constantly evolving (or being reaffirmed), and at the core of how we experience life. They also play a significant role in how we project onto others. Remember the blue dress/white dress internet debacle of 2015? People argued fiercely about the color of a dress. Read that again—people argued over the color of a dress. A dress they didn’t own, weren’t going to buy, and weren’t going to wear. And yet, they passionately insisted that their perception was correct while everyone else was wrong. (For the record, I still say it was white and gold.)

Beliefs shape everything! From how we interpret simple images to how we engage in global conflicts. They define how we interact with the world, shape our emotional responses, and influence what we accept as truth. The tricky part? Most people don’t even know where their beliefs came from or why they have them in the first place. And because beliefs become deeply ingrained in personal identity, shifting them through conscious effort alone can feel nearly impossible. This is where hypnotherapy comes in because it allows us to access and reshape subconscious beliefs at the root level rather than just fighting them on the surface.

What do you think of the meme above? Personally, I 100% agree with the peanut butter and crackers… but the last two? Absolutely not. Coffee is life, and puppies are heaven-sent.

Think about your preferences, reactions, and judgments. What side of the cracker do you put your peanut butter on? Are you repulsed by coffee or puppies? These are small, trivial examples, but they illustrate a larger truth - our beliefs shape our perceptions, and our perceptions shape our reality.

Why People React Defensively When Beliefs Are Challenged

One of the biggest challenges with beliefs is that many people assume if you don’t agree with them, then you must be wrong. It’s the classic “my way or the highway” mindset. When someone’s words, actions, or beliefs challenge another person’s deeply held ideas, it can quickly escalate into an argument. Spend five minutes on any social media platform, and you’ll see this in action. Instead of accepting that every person operates from their own unique lens, people often react defensively and sometimes even aggressively, toward those who see things differently.

Think about it. Has anyone in the history of mankind ever completely changed their belief system just because someone else told them they were wrong? Not likely. That’s because beliefs aren’t just thoughts, they’re part of identity. For many people, a challenge to their belief system feels like a direct threat to their sense of self. Their worldview, their sense of security, and even their personal history may be built upon that belief. So, when someone questions it, their mind doesn’t process it as a simple difference of opinion, it processes it as a personal attack. This is why debates over religion, politics, or even minor social issues can escalate quickly.

The Subconscious Mind and Belief Defense

To the subconscious mind, a challenge to a belief isn’t just an argument, it can feel like a survival threat.

Why? Because beliefs anchor reality. They provide stability, predictability, and a sense of control. When a belief is questioned, it can feel like the foundation of a person’s entire world is shaking. Some people have built their entire lives, careers, or relationships around certain beliefs. In those cases, questioning the belief feels like questioning everything they know and love. And to the subconscious, that can feel like an attack on survival itself.

This is why people often react emotionally before they even have time to logically process a challenge to their beliefs. The fight-or-flight response kicks in, and suddenly, they are not just defending a belief—they are defending themselves.

The next time you're interacting with someone with differing beliefs ask yourself what you can learn about your beliefs in that moment. How can you choose to respond or react? Is there a chance that the differing belief could expand your own beliefs? And, don't forget the deeper: "Am I reacting to them, or am I seeing something in them that I don’t want to acknowledge in myself?"

Remember, there really is no ultimate reality and if that is the case, is there really any TRUE right or wrong when it comes to things like opinions about a dress or peanut butter on crackers?