People become what we think of them

People become what we think they are.

In the best-selling business book Business of Belief, the author shared a study where teachers were told they had a class of exceptional students coming into their class. These students were average, and the only difference was the teacher’s perception that they were exceptional. (Their performance records were modified to reflect this for the teacher.) What happened was the teacher treated the class very differently than if he/she had average students. The students then, overall, performed at much higher levels than they normally had in the past. The point was… based on what we perceive people as being, our actions to them can vary according to the perception we have of them.  People then tend to respond in the way we think they are

I wonder if every person who boarded the bus were treated as a unique, special person, of notoriety and accomplishment, could we change our culture by changing the way we think of them? If we applied this one phenomenon to the bus system, could the drivers be key influences in changing our communities?

There is something special in every person. When we believe it’s there, it shows up. “We are marvelously and wonderfully made.”(Psalm 139:14) For me I really strive, work to find, the wonder, marvelous workmanship inherent in each person I meet.

Lesson learned: What you think people are, they become.

What we believe eventually becomes our reality.