When you look in the mirror, what do you see? The simple answer is, "I see myself." That self-image defines who you are, to yourself, at that moment in time. What your brain is reporting back to you though, is often informed by a set of perceptions and preconceived notions that have also been defined by others to whom you listen. You've had it drummed into your brain that you are pretty or plain, smart or slow, funny or dull and everything in between. What you believe is flavored by others' perceptions. But try looking a little closer. How do you really perceive yourself? Because you are a collection of physical attributes, defined by skin tone and quality, hair color and length, physical height, weight, musculature and sexual orientation. When you speak, it's how you sound, to yourself. You also hear what others say about you and that goes a long way toward your own definition. What your parents have said, your friends, your enemies, even casual acquaintances who made a comment about you. What you perceive is a composite of your experiences. Who you are is also defined by how you act. How you treat yourself and others. Do you listen more than you speak? Are you fast, slow, quick, dull and so on. We have a combination of inner qualities, defined by actions and outward qualities, defined by appearance.
Who we are is combination of those two qualities:
Appearance (the protoplasm your parents willed you)
Actions (the ghost in the machine)
Which of the two do you think we can refine or alter most easily? Which depends on the other for alteration?
How we perceive ourselves and how we are perceived by others. Which is most important?
Speaking of perceptions, let's think about everybody else. the images you hold of others, in your head and when you see them. You hear some people say that they see something in others that makes them take on "qualities." Qualities beyond physical attributes. The qualities defined by their actions. Observers pass along personal attributes to define people. Sometimes the observer makes positive comments. "He may look dumpy, but I've see him scale that fence back there." "She looks stuck up but I noticed she smiles at the lepers in home room." Those are positive interpretations often made by people with a positive self-image. When people are developing a personality, however, the tendency is to run others down to appear better by comparison. They aren't trying hard to accomplish anything but by running others down, they can forgive their lack of ambition. "Look at ugly over there. Oooh, she should stay home on these fugly days." "I hear she's pregnant, otherwise why would she gain so much weight?" To simplify, people are either downgraded or enhanced by others. Which do you prefer? How can we avoid the negative?
Here is a thesis statement: Your actions, fueled by faith, defines who you are.
You begin by creating a positive self image. Upgrade yourself, purposely. You write down the attributes of others that you admire and you begin, today to take on those attributes. If you begin to truly believe you are attractive, personable, likable, kind, forgiving, studious and athletic, you have taken the first step toward being that person. Some people feel you have to move to a different community to become a different person. I disagree. My thesis is this. You define who you are, not others. You embody the attributes you admire. If you aren't tall, stand tall and be proud of your stature, which isn't defined by your height, it is defined by how you hold yourself and move. If you are chubby begin to think of yourself as that person who is developing from an endomorph into a mesomorph, a day at a time. First you define who you are. then you fulfill the reality of that perception. You become that person. Your actions define you more than your appearance. Your attitude and your effort elevate your existence beyond that appearance.
Put yourself in complete control of who you are. Be a positive, heroic person. Start with being supportive of yourself. Who you are. How you look. How you act. What you do. Be comfortable with your appearance. You'll want to be well groomed and clean. That helps and shows a sense of pride. Make your behavior a reflection of who you intend to be. Apply the same positives toward others. Be supportive. Listen more. Say positive things. It is often enough just to listen to others and show empathy. It helps them form their ideas, which can't come to fruition without adequate expression. You will instantly be a better person, who is perceived positively by active listening.
Smile at others as a greeting. Say, "hi." Right away you'll define the people you want to pay attention to and be an active listener to. They will respond with a smile and or a "hi." Those who scowl at you are negative people. You may convert them to friends, in time but to begin with, respond to people who are outwardly positive. Build your friend base on people who want to be your friend. They will be glad to listen to you after you listen to them. They will tend to be empathetic. You will both grow from the experience. Heroic people try to listen to everyone. You'd be surprised how people that tend to look down on you will come around if they realize you want to try to support them. It's not brown-nosing, it's being a decent human being. It's what decent people do. They support each other. Never be afraid to be the kind, generous, helpful person. To be the hero. To do the right thing.
Gradually you find yourself doing more heroic things. Falling on a land mines? That won't come up every day, will it? But standing up for the weak is heroic. Thinking of others before yourself is heroic. Speaking the truth when a lie is easier, is heroic. You won't always have the chance but that won't stop you from pursuing the goal. What separates the dark from the light is those who try, each day to be a positive influence on themselves and others.
Faith is a constant, completely fulfilled belief in something not yet fully realized. It overcomes doubt like a tsunami. Faith precedes all determined, successful action. It makes something difficult inevitable. Persistence and preparation then flow naturally fueled by attitude and effort. Faith primes. Preparation initiates. Persistence cements.
The next time you look in the mirror, see your own hero, then be your own hero.
Who we are is combination of those two qualities:
Appearance (the protoplasm your parents willed you)
Actions (the ghost in the machine)
Which of the two do you think we can refine or alter most easily? Which depends on the other for alteration?
How we perceive ourselves and how we are perceived by others. Which is most important?
Speaking of perceptions, let's think about everybody else. the images you hold of others, in your head and when you see them. You hear some people say that they see something in others that makes them take on "qualities." Qualities beyond physical attributes. The qualities defined by their actions. Observers pass along personal attributes to define people. Sometimes the observer makes positive comments. "He may look dumpy, but I've see him scale that fence back there." "She looks stuck up but I noticed she smiles at the lepers in home room." Those are positive interpretations often made by people with a positive self-image. When people are developing a personality, however, the tendency is to run others down to appear better by comparison. They aren't trying hard to accomplish anything but by running others down, they can forgive their lack of ambition. "Look at ugly over there. Oooh, she should stay home on these fugly days." "I hear she's pregnant, otherwise why would she gain so much weight?" To simplify, people are either downgraded or enhanced by others. Which do you prefer? How can we avoid the negative?
Here is a thesis statement: Your actions, fueled by faith, defines who you are.
You begin by creating a positive self image. Upgrade yourself, purposely. You write down the attributes of others that you admire and you begin, today to take on those attributes. If you begin to truly believe you are attractive, personable, likable, kind, forgiving, studious and athletic, you have taken the first step toward being that person. Some people feel you have to move to a different community to become a different person. I disagree. My thesis is this. You define who you are, not others. You embody the attributes you admire. If you aren't tall, stand tall and be proud of your stature, which isn't defined by your height, it is defined by how you hold yourself and move. If you are chubby begin to think of yourself as that person who is developing from an endomorph into a mesomorph, a day at a time. First you define who you are. then you fulfill the reality of that perception. You become that person. Your actions define you more than your appearance. Your attitude and your effort elevate your existence beyond that appearance.
Put yourself in complete control of who you are. Be a positive, heroic person. Start with being supportive of yourself. Who you are. How you look. How you act. What you do. Be comfortable with your appearance. You'll want to be well groomed and clean. That helps and shows a sense of pride. Make your behavior a reflection of who you intend to be. Apply the same positives toward others. Be supportive. Listen more. Say positive things. It is often enough just to listen to others and show empathy. It helps them form their ideas, which can't come to fruition without adequate expression. You will instantly be a better person, who is perceived positively by active listening.
Smile at others as a greeting. Say, "hi." Right away you'll define the people you want to pay attention to and be an active listener to. They will respond with a smile and or a "hi." Those who scowl at you are negative people. You may convert them to friends, in time but to begin with, respond to people who are outwardly positive. Build your friend base on people who want to be your friend. They will be glad to listen to you after you listen to them. They will tend to be empathetic. You will both grow from the experience. Heroic people try to listen to everyone. You'd be surprised how people that tend to look down on you will come around if they realize you want to try to support them. It's not brown-nosing, it's being a decent human being. It's what decent people do. They support each other. Never be afraid to be the kind, generous, helpful person. To be the hero. To do the right thing.
Gradually you find yourself doing more heroic things. Falling on a land mines? That won't come up every day, will it? But standing up for the weak is heroic. Thinking of others before yourself is heroic. Speaking the truth when a lie is easier, is heroic. You won't always have the chance but that won't stop you from pursuing the goal. What separates the dark from the light is those who try, each day to be a positive influence on themselves and others.
Faith is a constant, completely fulfilled belief in something not yet fully realized. It overcomes doubt like a tsunami. Faith precedes all determined, successful action. It makes something difficult inevitable. Persistence and preparation then flow naturally fueled by attitude and effort. Faith primes. Preparation initiates. Persistence cements.
The next time you look in the mirror, see your own hero, then be your own hero.
