Identify your Permen (Manostha)

Most people navigate through life without having full control over their mental state. The moods we experience—the mental and emotional states we inhabit—are profoundly influenced by external factors. Circumstances, the time of day, seasons of the year, the food we eat, and the environments we frequent all shape how we feel. Among these, one of the most significant influences comes from the people we interact with.

In this exploration, we shall focus solely on the individuals who shape and define one’s mental state. Let us call them Permen (or Manostha, in its Sanskrit root)—the people who possess the power to influence one’s mood and emotional atmosphere. A Permen actively or passively sets the tone of the interaction, whether through their presence, demeanour, or actions.

On the other side of this dynamic, we have the Percepton (or Manograh, in its Sanskrit root). This term represents the person who allows others to influence their mood and mental state. A Percepton is the receiver of the emotional energy projected by a Permen, responding to the mood or mindset established by the latter.

Henceforth, our discussion shall revolve around the interplay of these two individuals—the Permen (or Manostha), who crafts the emotional landscape, and the Percepton (or Manograh), who absorbs and resonates with it. This dynamic highlights a key aspect of human interaction: moods are rarely isolated. They are shaped, transferred, and experienced collectively, often without us even realizing the depth of this exchange.

Throughout this post, consider yourself as the Percepton, the person being influenced by another's mood. Since this term will be used frequently to define the role of the influenced individual, keeping it in mind will help you better follow and relate to the ideas discussed

When you take a moment to reflect, you’ll realize there is an entire spectrum of Permen in your life. These individuals vary in how they influence your mood and mental state. Let’s make an attempt to catalogue them

 Space-Based Permen

Space based Permen means those Permen who are defined by their physical position in relation to a Percepton

 

1.   Proximate Permen

These Permen are individuals who stay in close physical proximity to a Percepton. Their ability to influence stems purely from being physically present, and their role as a Permen ends once they move out of the Percepton’s vicinity. While their influence may leave a lingering effect for a brief period, it eventually fades away as their absence grows, restoring the Percepton’s mental state to its baseline.

 

2.   Distant Permen

These Permen exert a stronger influence on a Percepton when they are physically absent rather than present. While their impact is felt during moments of proximity, it becomes significantly more pronounced once they are apart. In other words, the lack of physical proximity amplifies the Permen’s power, allowing their influence to linger and grow in the mind of the Percepton. In this way, their absence becomes the very source of their emotional or mental impact.

 
3.   Echo Permen

These Permen are unique in that they have never been physically present in a Percepton's life and, in some cases, might never be. Despite this, their influence is undeniable and stems from the power of their ideas, accomplishments, or the persona they project to the world.

 

Figures like movie stars, politicians, sports icons, writers, and spiritual gurus fall into this category. Through their words, actions, or the legacy they leave behind, they resonate deeply with Percepton, shaping thoughts, emotions, and even behaviors from a distance.

 Time-Based Permen

These Permen are defined by the duration of their influence over a Percepton. Their impact is closely tied to a specific timeframe, ranging from fleeting moments to extended periods.

 
1.   Temporary Permen

Temporary Permen are those who hold influence over a Percepton for a limited period of time. Their impact is often situational or transitional, shaped by specific circumstances. For example, they might be a new colleague, an acquaintance, or a budding friendship where the Percepton shows mental vulnerability or openness until they understand the person better.

As time passes and impressions solidify, the Percepton either withdraws this influence, ceasing to allow the Permen to shape their mood, or transitions the Temporary Permen into a more lasting role of influence—potentially becoming a Permanent Permen.

 

Every Permen, regardless of their category, begins as a Temporary Permen. This is the foundational stage of influence, serving as a gateway through which all Permen must pass before their role and impact are fully established.

2.   Permanent Permen

Permanent Permen are individuals who hold a continuous and enduring influence over a Percepton. Their role as Permen may have been present from the beginning—for instance, within family relationships such as parents or siblings—or may develop later in life, as seen in relationships with a spouse, children, or close friends.

What distinguishes Permanent Permen is the sustained nature of their influence. While their impact may evolve over time, they remain a consistent presence in shaping the thoughts, emotions, and moods of the Percepton. Importantly, the decision to allow them to retain their role as Permen ultimately rests with the Percepton.

3.   Recurring Permen

Recurring Permen are individuals who influence a Percepton periodically, rather than through consistent or temporary presence. Their impact surfaces during specific moments or life phases, often triggered by circumstances that bring them back into the Percepton’s awareness. This sporadic connection allows them to shape the Percepton’s mood or thoughts anew each time they reappear, regardless of the time or distance that separates their interactions.

Examples of Recurring Permen include old friends who reconnect during significant life events, former mentors who offer timely guidance, or distant relatives who reappear intermittently. These interactions retain emotional and mental significance, even as they remain infrequent and situational.

This category highlights the cyclical nature of their influence—Percepton may ignore or disengage from Recurring Permen in their absence, but when the time comes, their presence regains strength and has a renewed impact on the Percepton’s emotional state.

Willing and Unwilling Permen

Not all mood definers hold authority by conscious choice. Some exert their influence without explicit consent from the Percepton. This distinction raises questions about the initial definition of a Permen as someone whom you allow to shape your mood. The concept of Unwilling Permen introduces a compelling contradiction, offering a deeper exploration of what it truly means to be a Permen.

 For example:

• A Willing Permen might include a trusted friend whose advice and companionship you consciously rely on to uplift your mood.
• An Unwilling Permen, on the other hand, could be a colleague whose negativity indirectly affects you, despite your best efforts to ignore them, or a public figure whose controversial statements linger in your thoughts without your deliberate consent.

While a Permen is typically considered an "insider job"—someone who operates within the Percepton’s mental or emotional boundaries—there are instances where this permission is granted unconsciously. Certain individuals can shape your thoughts and emotions even without your active agreement, slipping past your awareness to influence your mood subtly or indirectly.

This categorization highlights an important truth: the Percepton holds the inherent strength to regulate these boundaries, but may not always be fully aware of the people they permit into their emotional space. It emphasizes the subtle yet significant ways influence can bypass conscious awareness, prompting the Percepton to reflect on how they define and control emotional connections

 True Permen: The Ideal but Rare Phenomenon

At the foundation of the Permen framework lies the concept of the True Permen—an individual whose mood and mental state are entirely self-contained, unaffected by anyone or anything, yet capable of influencing a Percepton profoundly. However, such a person is extraordinarily rare, if they exist at all. Humans are inherently social beings, and even those who exhibit great emotional independence are shaped, at least subtly, by external influences.

This realization sets the stage for exploring the interconnectedness of influence. Most Permen are not "True Permen," as their role involves a reciprocal exchange with the Percepton, making their influence dynamic and often mutual. This insight highlights the nuanced relationship between a Permen and a Percepton.

Symbiotic Permenship

In most cases, the influence of a Permen is not a one-way street. Symbiotic Permen represent a mutual dynamic, where a Permen shapes the mood of a Percepton, and the Percepton’s mood—often shaped by other Permen—reverberates back to influence the original Permen. This creates a continuous loop of mutual emotional exchange.

For example:

• A friend who uplifts your mood after a meaningful conversation becomes your Permen. However, your happiness and reassurance might reflect back and uplift them, making you their Permen simultaneously.
• In close relationships, such as with spouses or best friends, this symbiotic interaction is common, where both individuals serve as each other’s Permen in a constantly shifting balance.

This category showcases the interwoven nature of influence, revealing how everyone can simultaneously act as both a Percepton and a Permen at different times.

How Many People Consider You Their Permen?

This brings us to a thought-provoking question: How many people view you as their Permen? The significance of this lies in the understanding that there is no such thing as a perfectly independent Permen. Instead, the role you play in shaping others’ moods inevitably influences your own emotional state.

Consider this: every time you affect someone’s mood—whether through your actions, presence, or words—you become their Permen. This isn’t a passive role; the way you influence others feeds back into your own mental landscape. For instance:

• If your advice uplifts a colleague, their gratitude might positively influence your own mood.
• If your frustration affects a friend, their reaction might amplify or shift your emotional state in unexpected ways.

This interconnectedness reinforces the mutual nature of influence and challenges us to reflect on the emotional dynamics we create and sustain. It reminds us that no relationship is one-sided, and being mindful of how others perceive us is as vital as understanding the people who influence us.

Why Recognizing Permen Matters  

The exploration and categorization of Permen ultimately lead to this critical point: Why does it matter to identify your Permen? Understanding the concept of Permen-Percepton is not merely an intellectual exercise—it carries profound implications for managing one’s emotional and mental wellbeing.

The idea revolves around three key reasons:

1. Understanding Your Mental State

Recognizing your Permen helps you grasp the dynamics of your mental state and pinpoint the root causes behind it. By identifying who holds sway over your mood, you gain deeper insight into why you feel the way you do. This awareness is the foundation for addressing and improving your emotional wellbeing.

2. Taking Charge of Your Emotional Boundaries

Identifying your Permen reinforces that the power to shape your mental state lies with you as the Percepton. Choosing someone to be your Permen is ultimately a conscious—or sometimes unconscious—decision. This realization empowers you to take control of emotional dynamics and establish boundaries, allowing you to consciously manage how external influences affect you.

3. Recognizing the Symbiotic Nature of Influence

The concept also reveals that Permenship never exists in isolation. It thrives symbiotically, emphasizing the interconnected loop of influence. Your mental state, shaped by other Permen, invariably feeds back to the original Permen, influencing their mood in turn. This cyclical exchange reinforces the idea that emotional states evolve continuously, shaping and being shaped by mutual interactions.

Ultimately, recognizing your Permen gives you both the insight and agency to manage your emotional landscape effectively. It highlights the responsibility and choice inherent in defining relationships and encourages mindfulness in shaping the dynamics that impact your mental state.

After reading this, I would encourage you to make a note of your Pemens (all categories) and Perceptons. Try to bring the count to a bear minimum and take charge of your own mental state.