Is it our REACTION that we have control over or is it our PERCEPTION?

Answer 1

Both. But the catch is, it takes a fair bit of work to establish control over either reaction or perception. Almost *all* of the sciences in human endeavors are *about* controlling reactions (ours, someone else's, some *thing* else's) or perceptions (ditto). You (referring to people in general, generically) need to find a discipline of some sort and work on it to get there, to get in control of *a* reaction or *a* perception, be it your own or anyone else's.

And for all that work...someone else will show up, a prodigy, an *artist* for whom the endeavor is mindless....and that person will always do better than you do, simply because for the *artist* the operative word is *Not* "control".

It is simply to "react" or to "perceive". That is what separates sciences from arts. Art occurs when control is surrendered and the mind gets out of its own way.

Control is simply a tool to *get at* reactions and perceptions so that we may *react* and *perceive* truthfully and flawlessly.

Hope this helps. ^_^ Have a good one.

Answer 2

We have control over our Perception more than our Reaction because the way we Perceive one another is what triggers the way we react. A person shouldn't act surprised each time they see a plate fall to the ground because they've seen it happen before. When we change our way of thinking, we can change the way we react to it.

Answer 3

In my opinion, it is reaction that we have control over.
We have indirect control over our perception through
our reaction; we can change our window of perception
by interactive reaction. We can choose to ignore what
we perceive, but that is control after the fact of perception.
The first reaction is awareness which is reaction by
formulation of the interpretation of the perception.
Therefore, control over perception is enforced by
the present awareness and consideration(reaction)
of what was perceived in the past perception.

Answer 4

We can control both. There are reactions that are automatic, such as wincing when a loud noise assaults you, and gasping when a sudden pain strikes you.
We perceive what we believe, and if we choose to believe in ghosts, we will see them eventually (or rather, see the illusion of one). If you don't believe in the Holocaust, you will ignore all evidence or say it was made up. You will miss seeing something that others see because your focus is on something else.
We can train our senses to be more acute; we can train our minds to appreciate certain kinds of music or art that we never thought about much before.

Answer 5

We have NO control over our reactions UNTIL we no longer MISperceive. Our perceptions are controlled by what we have LEARNED to believe in.

Answer 6

we can only react to our perceptions , for example if one can not hear a car or see it coming at them (percieve it) they will be squashed like a grape

Answer 7

its our perception that influences our reactions!

Answer 8

i agree with orion...
its our perception that influences our reactions!

Answer 9

we can alter our peception ,meditation, hallucinogenics, but we are conditioned to reaction in our core-flight or fight? Harder to control those natural responses.

Answer 10

How you percieve a happening will be the determining factor of how you will react.