Every day we meet people and people meet us or hear about us and a perception is formed. As much as we try to deny it many of these perceptions affect us because we are taught from an early age to have certain standards or goals as it relates to our image.
It’s a deep-seated need to want the approval of our peers or those we interact with and so we do things like; like take things personally; self-sensor; put dreams on hold and consistently try to please people. But what do we really gain from this?
Wasting our time thinking about what others are thinking about us serves us nothing. I would even call it unhealthy. The simple fact is that how people perceive us ultimately reveals more about them than us. No matter how hard to try to maintain a certain ‘image’ people will perceive us based on their own conditioning and filters. Regardless of how perfect we try to act people will judge, talk about and project their own feelings and emotions onto us.
We need to learn that in the end, not everyone is going to like you….and that’s ok, not everyone is going to have your vision or your drive for something better…and that’s ok. We worry about people who ultimately have no part to play in our lives and often have their own issues that they are going through.
Now I’m not saying that we should totally disregard the opinions of those closest to us (like family and friends) as these can often be things to help us develop for the better, but what we must remember is that no matter what anyone around you might say, your self-worth isn’t defined by an approval rating. There’s no objective rating scale that allows another person to judge you. They don’t know what you’ve been through.
At the end of the day everyone’s path is different and you have to do what’s right for you, and not base that decision on what other people think about you or what you’re doing. As much as they like to think they are, nobody is perfect. Nobody has the right to declare you unfit or unworthy of something just because of a flaw or because you’re different than others. As long as you’re doing the right things in this world with the right motivations, it doesn’t matter what other people’s opinions are of you.
Nobody will ever be as invested in your life as you. Only you know what is best for you, and that entails learning from your own choices. The only way you will ever truly learn is through making your own decisions, taking full responsibility for them, and that way if you do fail, at least you can learn from it. If you want to live a meaningful and fulfilled life, you have to own your choices and learn from them and not worry how it looks to others.
This is a great article. You are absolutely CORRECT!
Its a complete waste of time for a person to focus on what other people think of them!
Much like its a waste of time to judge a person who is about their business.
too many people more now than ever spend their time spreading gossip and slandering others YET spend zero time improving themselves as human beings!
Interesting.
The choices we make can affect others so we should care what others think, but we must not dwell on what they think. We often have to make choices that are best for us, our own happiness, regardless of what the community thinks. Forthat reason I seen agree with the writer.
God bless Dominica. God bless our choices.
I previously held the same rationale you have as it relates to perception. Interestingly, ponder on the fact that sometimes, that perception becomes the reality for some people. Whether it be to the ignorance of those who make assumptions about an individuals character, ethics or morales simply based on what they percieve, or simply people failing to be more analytic, some will beleive what they can see with their eyes. Some may agree that with a more in-depth analytic observation of someone whether through psychoanalysis or investigative measures, a more accurate image of an individual can be portrayed.
In light of the level of mediocrity exhibited by the majority, i was forced to be conscious of the fact people may prevent your professional development based on what they percieve of you, regardless of truth of their perception of you.
You are correct up to a point. Very often people think of themselves a certain way, while they behave differently. Very often people’s perception of who you are is a reflection of how you present yourself to others. That should give you a reason to do some self assessment. You may not be who you think you are.
This quote is relevant to the topic:
“I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird.” (Paul McCartney)
As a young woman, your present statements will not hold true as you continue to evolve, taking individualistic positions, shows how selfishness have taken hold of our every day life. We are told that it takes a village to grow a child, the moral, ethics and virtues passed on to this child/ adolescent, true adults are created, one that would never use I but We. as you continue to grow my young Daughter, you will see what i mean. Compassion.
As much as we try to deny it many of these perceptions affect us because we are taught from an early age to have certain standards or goals as it relates to our image.
Well that is your perception; However, that is not true; the only way that could be true in regards to some individuals is if they have psychological, or psychiatric issues!
Some of us are thought from early age , as long as we know who we are, it does not matter what others thinks about us; at least in the developed world people do not have time to worry about peoples perceptions of them.
Dominica is a different place, if you walk down the street, and did not greet the person you may know, automatically they conceive in their mind you are their enemy or have something against them.
They may even go to someone and tell them how you walk past them without speaking to them.
All of that is simply traditional customs; has nothing to do with perceptions!
Not real, even Roosevelt Skerrit cares about how people perceive him. In fact I sometimes think that is the only thing he cares about.