While vacationing on the garden island of Kauai, my husband and I booked a tour of the botanical gardens. The rain made it difficult to see and slowed down our movement. Our car drove up a muddy road into a secluded parking lot that appeared to have a couple of outbuildings. We were both focused on finding the right place to park and meet to start our 2 hour journey.
We saw an open rustic hut with a green roof, many chairs and a pulpit. We found a place to sit in the indoor/outdoor room and listened as our guide introduced us to our tour. After we wandered the stunning gardens, tasted chocolates from around the world, and tasted fresh cacao nibs, cinnamon and ambrosia, we returned to where we started. I saw colorful grapes flowing in abundance throughout the rustic hut. Rushing to find the right place to go so I wouldn’t miss our adventure, I passed the most spectacular flowing vine I had ever seen. Our guide said that they were Indian Clock Vines, or Thunbergia Misorensis. Their bright yellow and red flowers fluttered like the sound of the wind and covered the entire entrance to the meeting ground. Another woman commented: “I haven’t noticed them either! Aren’t they cute.” Although we came to the gardens to look at the plants, we were almost blown away by the amazing natural beauty before our eyes.
Stress and attention
Even mild stress we felt that being on time for our trip distorted our perception of reality. We have not really seen what is in front of us. Mild stress can increase our processing speed when performing tasks such as finding our destination on a map (Shields et al., 2019). Attention attention in a task it shapes what we put in the background and what we bring to the fore. At higher levels, stress can slow our cognitive processing and increase our susceptibility to errors (Hodami et al., 2026).
Selective focus
Our ability to focus on our goals and not be distracted by distractions is an important function of the brain (Schneider, 2019). Driving in the rain on dirt roads required us to pay extra attention to our safety. One of the reasons we didn’t notice when we got to Indian Clock Wines is because we were focused on finding the right place and making sure we didn’t miss the trip. We have not yet focused our attention on plants. Everything but our goal became an irrelevant background. However, after two hours of exploring, smelling, tasting and enjoying the plants, our vision was awakened by the beauty of the place where we started. Our focus is greatly shaped by our stress levels. anxietyexpectations and goals.
Anxiety can distort perception
When we feel anxious and panicky, we can be distracted by the physical symptoms of stress, such as sweating, dizziness, rapid heart rate, and gastrointestinal disturbances. We often interpret these symptoms as evidence that something is wrong. Over-interpreting these symptoms negatively can fuel anxious thoughts that distort reality. Our stress response is real, but the conclusions we draw from these feelings are often incorrect.
Stress and anxiety can also have an effect memory and decision making. Studies show that prolonged stress can impair cognitive functions, making it harder to concentrate, recall information, and objectively assess situations (Girotti, 2024). Under stress, people can jump to conclusions, misinterpret events, or overlook important details.
Don’t believe everything you see
Selective focus is necessary executive function the brain that helps us perform goals. Stress and anxiety can shape our interpretation of reality and cause us to misinterpret or miss important information. It can affect our relationships when we think others are judging us, rejecting us, or thinking badly of us. Anxiety can increase perceived social threats, leading to unnecessary worry and avoidance of social situations.
It helps to accept that our perception of reality is limited. You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t believe everything you think.” I recommend that we don’t believe everything we see:
- Our eyes have a limited range and field of vision to begin with.
- Most of what is in front of us, we don’t even notice. (Many are now glued to their phones, even when out in public.)
- When we remove the rigid belief in the accuracy of our own perception, we can more easily correct our misconceptions.
Everyday stress management practice, such as mindfulnessexercise, good sleep and relaxation in nature can help us understand more and feel happier. You can also enjoy the amazing Indian clock vine.
