At the heart of an ordinary image of a stray cat on a staircase, actually hides a powerful psychological revealer, which divides humanity into two opposing clans: optimists and pessimists. Depending on your perception of the direction taken by the cat, your philosophy of life could be revealed.
It’s not what you look at that counts, it’s what you see. –Henry David Thoreau
The cat climbing the stairs: the inveterate optimist
If your brain interprets the image as that of a cat climbing the stairs, you probably belong to the cheerful cohort of optimists. These individuals are constantly searching for possibility, growth, and latent potential in the world around them.
A vision of this ascending feline is a sign of an upwardly oriented spirit, rising above the vicissitudes of life. Those who perceive the cat as climbing stairs are often ambitiousaspiring to reach new heights, regardless of the obstacles that stand in their way.
The cat coming down the stairs: the informed pessimist
On the other hand, if you perceive the cat going down the stairs, you might have a more skeptical outlook on life, reflecting a more pessimistic philosophy. This view may be rooted in your life experiences, or perhaps a reflection of some caution gained from adverse encounters.
Pessimists do not give their confidence easily. They calculate their movements, analyze their options, and are often skeptical of those who seem too accommodating to them. Although this attitude may seem defensive, it reinforces their sharpness and insight into their relationships, thus making it very difficult to fool them.
A mirror of the soul
The beauty of this analysis is that no matter which direction the cat takes in your eyes, there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone perceives the world through the prism of their own experiences and character. The cat on the stairs test is just one psychological tool among others, intended to help us better understand our own perceptions and put them into perspective.
Whether it’s a cat climbing a flight of stairs or descending it, this simple test offers fascinating insight into the often unexplored depths of our psyche. He reminds us that perception is a very personal phenomenon, shaped by a multitude of factors, both conscious and unconscious.
