Identity Shifting, Self-Transformation & Embracing the Unknown

Profound personal transformations often entail an identity shift, a fundamental change in core beliefs. Shedding outdated notions about yourself, others, and the world can propel you on a journey of self-actualization. Even with supportive peers, the deeply intimate nature of this process means they may not fully grasp what you’re going through. You will likely encounter aversion, resistance, and turmoil as your complex sense of self fights to maintain the status quo. This is normal, as your identity clings to the familiar, seeking comfort in the known and craving validation.

In this article, I will guide you through a powerful reflection exercise that will open the gates of the unknown, allowing you to create a vehicle of wisdom to navigate this transformational stream with ease.

The Nature of Interpretation

“We don’t know how things are. We only know how we interpret them. We live in interpretive worlds.”

This quote by Rafael Echeverria, the father of Ontological Coaching, encapsulates a core concept that is essential for understanding and navigating personal transformation. Initially, it may seem like a simple acknowledgment of subjectivity. However, its deeper layers reveal profound implications for our identities, relationships, and lives.

Understanding Interpretation

The assertion that “we don’t know how things are; we only know how we interpret them” challenges us to reconsider our perception of reality. Take the example of listening to a podcast. You might think you know you are listening to a podcast, but this is actually an interpretation. Your brain processes sensory inputs—sounds, possibly visuals—and categorizes them based on familiar patterns. This categorization is an interpretation, giving meaning to raw sensory data.

Different factors bias this process:

1. Biology: Sensory data received through your biological interface is influenced by your developmental stage and mental health.
2. Past Experiences, Culture, and Society: Social context, environment, and previously constructed knowledge shape interpretations.
3. Desires: Goals and preconceptions influence how information is favored and interpreted.
4. Beliefs and Emotions: Emotional states lead to various cognitive biases.

Changing any of these factors can result in multiple, even infinite, interpretive variations of the same raw input. Different people will have different interpretations of the same experience, and no single interpretation reflects the actual truth.

The Illusion of Objectivity

When we claim to know how things are, we are pointing to a constructed meaning. The idea that meanings in our heads coincide with external reality is a philosophical confusion. This phrase invites us to stop perceiving our reality as if we are truly perceiving what is out there. The world we perceive is a construction from start to finish.

Recognizing this can profoundly impact how we approach our reality and the realities of others. Imagine dropping the need to label interpretations as true or untrue. This shift could transform our lives and the world.

Embracing Subjectivity

Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, we have embraced freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Yet, we continue to act as if we know the truth. Modern psychology supports the idea that each person’s reality is shaped by unique experiences and emotions, but we often get deeply attached to our viewpoints.

The Impact of Belief in Absolute Truth

We tend to treat our thoughts as absolute truths, which can affect us emotionally and mentally. When others challenge our truth, it feels like an attack on our worldview, triggering defensive reactions. This need to be right impacts our ability to achieve our goals.

Your identity, a collection of experiences, beliefs, and values, is not rigid. Each person perceives you differently, and even you cannot truly know who you are—you can only interpret yourself.

Moving Beyond the Need for Absolute Truth

If you think you know how things are and who you are, I invite you to question these ideas. Are they truly accurate? More importantly, are they useful for achieving your goals? Reflect carefully and avoid jumping to conclusions. Only you can answer this.

“We don’t know how things are. We only know how we interpret them. We live in interpretive worlds.”

Instead of striving to be right, focus on getting results. Accept that we cannot access absolute truth and concentrate on what can be observed without doubt in your experience. We can never know what a “podcast” actually is, but we can assess whether our interpretations help us achieve our goals.

Release the need to know how things are and start living from a place of connection with your subjectivity. Co-create your interpretive world in a way that aligns with your desires and values, making it more interesting, wholesome, and meaningful.

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