As we go through the days of our lives (sounds like a soap opera), each moment we are using our personal filters to translate and understand in formation.

I read a quote the other day that spoke to one of my own basic filters.  It made me think about filters in general and how they influence our interpretation of the world and thus our behavior.

The Quote

For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else.  –  Winston Churchill

Back to Filters in General

Filtering is highly individual.   A key to successful use of filters is self awareness.  Simply put,  if you understand how you filter things it enables you to put your behaviors into situational context and provides a frame for modifying how you interpret and thus react to incoming information.    (When a sentence starts with “simply put” you can almost be sure it isn’t).

The Optimism Filter

A good example of this is the optimism filter.  The over-used “Is the glass half full or half empty?” is a great summary of how this filter works.   The data (a glass with liquid in it) is the same for all observers, but how you interpret the level of liquid in the glass (i.e., positively or negatively) can be very dependent on your basic filter – optimism or pessimism.  Most interesting fact here is the interpretation of each filter is basically correct.

However, it is a bit more complex!

Overall this filtering framework covers far more than just the optimistic/pessimistic characteristics and for any given individual an integrated  myriad of filtering types are in play interacting in different ways.

Many of you will have at one point or another taken those simple questionnaires which are used to classify your personality type (e.g., Meyers Briggs, Birkman colors, and so on).  These personality categories are based on the most consistent outputs for that type – on the whole.  That is, in specific situations the combination of filters in that personality type tends to react consistently.  In essence this personality type defines your basic frame for filtering and reacting to your environment.

Understanding your filtering mix can help you shape your personal interactions,  for positive results.