Today, I’ll show you why your perception—what you think is real—isn’t as real as it feels. Why this is the root of most stuckness. And how your distorted lens is shaping your mindset, your emotions, your identity—and your entire life.

Most people think they are stuck because they're in the wrong job, the wrong routine, or the wrong life.

But what if they’re not?

What if they are stuck because they’ve been seeing the wrong picture—not reality itself, but a distorted, outdated version of it created by their brain?

Most burned-out and stuck pre-solopreneurs, as well as those currently struggling as solopreneurs, try to change their actions when they feel stuck. Or their habits. Or their circumstances.

But the real issue isn’t what you’re doing—it’s what you’re seeing. And how you're seeing it.

If you don't fix that, nothing else will stick.

What Is Perception - And Why It’s Not What You Think

Perception isn’t just sight. It’s not even just sensory input.

Perception is your brain’s best guess of what’s happening, based on your past experiences, emotional state, memories, and internal models.

You think you’re seeing reality. You’re seeing a story—one your brain constructed to save energy and protect you from uncertainty.

It’s like a movie editor cutting the scene to match an old script.

Perceive vs Interpret - Why This Distinction Matters

You perceive something: your boss pauses for a few seconds after reading your report. Then you interpret it: “They’re disappointed in me.” “I must’ve made a mistake.” Suddenly, your whole body tenses. Your mind spirals. You start doubting your competence.

Same moment, different lens. Someone else might interpret the pause as: “They’re just distracted.” Or even: “They’re impressed and thinking deeply.”

Here’s the truth: you’re not reacting to reality—you’re reacting to your interpretation of it.

And if that interpretation is shaped by years of burnout, low self-trust, or fear of failure, your perception will always feed the same narrative:

I’m not safe. I can’t change. I’ll fail if I try.

Predictive Coding: The Brain’s Shortcut That Can Trap You

Your brain is lazy. Brilliant, but lazy. Instead of processing every new thing, it predicts what’s coming based on what it’s seen before.

This is called predictive coding, and it’s how the brain stays efficient.

But here’s the problem: If your inner model is built on stuckness, burnout, or fear, your brain will expect those things—and filter reality to match.

You’ll miss opportunities. You’ll dismiss encouragement. You’ll see risk where there’s possibility.

Your reality isn’t the truth. It’s a prediction. And if the prediction is wrong, your whole perception is broken.

The Perception – Emotion Loop: Why Burnout Distorts Everything

Here’s something burnout survivors know deeply: When you're exhausted, anxious, or emotionally numb, the world doesn't just feel harder—it looks harder.

This is called the perception–emotion loop.

Your emotional state distorts your lens.

Your distorted perception reinforces the emotion.

Example: A neutral Slack message becomes a passive-aggressive dig. A delayed reply becomes a rejection. A client’s “no” becomes “I’m not good enough.”

You think you’re being logical—but you’re just seeing through a stressed, scared, tired lens.

The Identity Trap: How Who You Think You Are Shapes What You See

Perception doesn’t just come from emotion. It comes from identity—your inner story of who you are.

If you see yourself as “just someone who needs stability,” you won’t perceive risk as opportunity.

If you see yourself as “not built for solopreneurship,” you won’t notice doors that are open to you.

This is backed by narrative identity theory in psychology: We don’t just build stories from perception—we use stories to shape what we allow ourselves to perceive.

If you want to change what you see, you have to change who you think you are.

9 Perceptual Distortions That Keep You Trapped

Your brain is full of shortcuts. Evolutionary tools that once helped us survive are now keeping us stuck.

Here are some of the most dangerous ones:

1. Confirmation Bias: You tend to find evidence that supports your existing beliefs. (“See? I knew I wasn’t cut out for this.”)

2. Negativity Bias: You notice the risk, not the reward.

3. Familiarity Bias: Anything new feels dangerous, even if it’s better.

4. Cognitive Dissonance: You avoid ideas that challenge the story you've been living in.

5. Emotional Reasoning: “I feel stuck, so it must mean I am stuck.”

6. Projection: You see your own fears in others’ faces.

7. Overgeneralization: One failure becomes “I always fail.”

8. Filtering: You forget the wins and obsess over what went wrong.

9. Tunnel Vision: Stress narrows your focus to only the problems.

None of these makes you broken. They make you human. But they can also keep you trapped in a life that doesn’t fit you anymore.

Can You Shift Perception? Yes, But Not by Accident

Let’s be clear: you can rewire your perception.

Your brain is plastic. It adapts. It builds new maps. But it won’t do it automatically. You need to train it.

That means:

• Getting aware of the lens you’re wearing.

• Interrupting your assumptions.

• Tolerating uncertainty instead of defaulting to old stories.

Most people fail not because they’re incapable, but because they try to change their behaviour without changing the lens behind it.

Perception Engineering: Tools for a Clearer Mindset

If you want to shift your life, start by shifting the lens.

Here’s how to engineer your perception on purpose:

• Journaling: Not to document the day, but to catch distortions and rewrite them.

• Narrative editing: “What else could this mean?” is a powerful question.

• Somatic awareness: Your body informs perception. Calm the nervous system, and the lens shifts.

• Safe discomfort: Practice doing things that challenge your inner model without triggering collapse.

• Visualisation: Mental rehearsal helps your brain create new predictions.

• Perspective exposure: New environments, conversations, and input stretch the lens wide open.

This is the real freedom. Not quitting your job or making a bold move simply because “you can’t take it anymore”.

But seeing clearly and choosing your direction from that clarity.

A Final Word: You Don’t Need a New Life. You Need a New Lens

You’re not broken. You’re just seeing through a filter that isn’t yours anymore.

That old lens was shaped by burnout. By fear. By overthinking. It served you once. Now it’s holding you back.

Your next breakthrough isn’t simply about more effort or better habits. It’s about perception.

You don’t need to change everything. You just need to see clearly.

And clarity? That’s where your real mindset shift—and your freedom—begins.

There's only 1 spot left for 1-on-1 mindset coaching in September, and it should close soon, before the summer break.

Book a free Clarity Call with me here

If you are not ready for that yet, it's okay. You are in a safe space here, and you are already on a path towards freedom and meaning. Trust me.

PS: You may want to check this out if you struggle to make the bold move but still want to test the waters, explore and embody your new identity without risking your job (for now), income, or sanity » 7 Low-Risk Entry Points For Pre-Solopreneurs (Before You Quit)