In today’s fast-paced world, we often focus on external achievements while neglecting the rich internal landscape of our experiences. Alejandro Betancourt, entrepreneur, author, and philosophical thinker, champions a different approach—one rooted in the phenomenological tradition that examines how we experience and interpret the world around us.
Looking Beyond Surface Reality
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth,” Betancourt quotes Marcus Aurelius in his thought-provoking essay “That’s Just the Facts! (Or Is It?)”. This philosophical stance forms the foundation of his approach to self-development.
For Betancourt, meaningful growth begins with recognizing that our perception of reality is shaped by our unique perspective. “We don’t just observe reality; we construct it,” he writes. This insight invites us to question our automatic interpretations of events and consider alternative viewpoints.
In “The Art of Being,” Betancourt explores how this phenomenological approach applies to everyday objects and experiences. He encourages readers to look beyond physical attributes to examine our relationships with the world around us. A truck isn’t just a vehicle with certain specifications—it’s about the experience of driving it, the sense of power and responsibility it evokes.
The Power of Perception in Personal Growth
Betancourt’s writing consistently highlights how our perceptions shape our reality and, consequently, our potential for growth. “The facts we choose influence more than what we know; they also shape what we believe to be real,” he notes.
This understanding opens powerful possibilities for personal development. If our reality is partly constructed through our perceptions, then shifting how we perceive challenges can transform our experience of them.
As a single father of twins and busy entrepreneur, Betancourt applies this principle to his own life. Rather than seeing his unconventional family structure as lacking, he recognizes it as complete in its own right. “I’m genuinely content with my life exactly as it is,” he writes in “Table for Three: Finding Joy in the Space Between.”
Practical Applications of Phenomenological Thinking
What makes Betancourt’s philosophical approach particularly valuable is its practicality. He offers concrete ways to implement this thinking:
- Question your interpretations: When faced with a situation, ask yourself, “What facts am I focusing on? What might I be ignoring? How would this look from another perspective?”
- Embrace the full spectrum of experience: In “Soaked and Smirking,” Betancourt describes standing in the rain and finding unexpected joy instead of frustration. This willingness to fully experience even uncomfortable moments enriches our understanding of life.
- Recognize cognitive biases: Betancourt encourages awareness of how our minds selectively process information to confirm existing beliefs. “Rewire our biased mental circuitry,” he advises in “The Biased Ways Our Minds Craft Our Reality.”
- Practice mindful presence: Rather than rushing through experiences, take time to notice how you interact with objects, people, and environments. The essence of phenomenology is this attentive presence to experience.
The Transformative Power of Self-Reflection
For Betancourt, self-reflection isn’t merely an intellectual exercise—it’s a pathway to authentic living. By examining how we experience the world rather than simply what happens to us, we gain greater agency in shaping our lives.
“I was just… there. Complete. Present,” he writes of a moment of clarity. This state of complete presence represents the goal of his phenomenological approach.
In a world that often prioritizes external metrics of success, Betancourt reminds us that the quality of our experience—how we perceive and interpret our reality—ultimately determines the quality of our lives. Through thoughtful self-reflection and phenomenological awareness, we can cultivate more meaningful, authentic, and purposeful living.
As Betancourt concludes in “Spinning Through the Dark,” “Maybe there’s something in letting the heat have its moment instead of wishing it away.” In embracing the full texture of our experiences—pleasant and unpleasant alike—we discover the art of truly being.
