How you perceive yourself and how you are perceived by others are not always aligned and can often be at odds with one another. For example, someone who has a negative self-image might project an overly confident persona that belies their true feelings about themselves. On the other hand, someone with a positive self-image may come across as shy or insecure because they are reluctant to show off their strengths in front of people they don’t know well (or at all). But are we not being true? Let’s explore.
Your self-image
Your self-image is the way you see yourself. It’s more than just your looks and body image, as important as those things are. Self-image includes how you feel about yourself and what you think of yourself.
Self-image plays an important role in how people perceive us, because it affects how we behave and interact with others. For example:
- If someone has a positive self-image, they will probably be happier and more confident than someone who doesn’t have a good opinion of themselves (and vice versa).
- If someone has a negative self-image and feels bad about themselves, then they may avoid social situations where they might get embarrassed or rejected by other people–and that can lead to isolation from friends or family members who could help keep them grounded in reality!
Your public image
Public image is the impression you give to others. It’s a combination of your actions, words and appearance. The public’s perception of you is based on all these elements, which can be used together or separately to create an image for yourself. If you want people to see a certain side of who you are and how they should perceive you as an individual, then it’s up to one thing: presentation!
If someone sees me speaking loudly at a restaurant table with my friends after having had too much wine (or beer), they will probably think that I’m crazy or drunk–and maybe even both! But if they saw me during my first day at work at an office job where everyone else was quiet and professional-looking in their suits/dresses with straightened hair–well then maybe those same people would think differently about what kind of person I am!
It is not just about how you look
Your image is not just about how you look. It’s also about how you carry yourself, interact with people, and present yourself.
Your public image is the first thing people notice about you when they meet for the first time. Your self-image is what drives your actions and decisions throughout your life. The two are connected but distinct from one another; this means that even if someone has a poor self-image (e.g., sees themselves as unattractive), their public perception could still be positive because of their confidence or charisma in social situations, and vice verse. Social media and Hollywood glamorous are just two factors that contribute to the false belief of self-image.
Don’t change for someone else. Be yourself.
It’s OK to be different, and it’s OK to stand out. In fact, it’s the only way you’ll ever achieve your true potential as a person and as a professional. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or taking risks; those are part of growing up and learning new things about yourself (and others). At the end of the day, life is too short not to try something just because other people might not approve or understand what you’re doing!
Be true but flexible
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to self-image is that you can’t always control what others think of you. That being said, it’s also important that you don’t let other people define who you are or what your values are. You have to be comfortable with yourself so that if someone else doesn’t like something about your personality or behavior, it won’t bother them enough for them not to want to be around you anymore.
The key here is balance: Be who you are but also open yourself up for new experiences and ideas; don’t close yourself off from anything because it may lead down another path later on down life’s road (or even tonight). If someone doesn’t like something about themselves then they usually try hard not only change themselves but also others around them so that those same traits aren’t present in anyone else either–which isn’t healthy because no one should ever feel bad about themselves just because someone else doesn’t like something about their own lives either!
Who you are is who you want to be
The first step in creating a successful public image is understanding who you are. This is not as simple as it sounds, and it requires some introspection. In order to be the person you want others to see, what must change? What do you need to work on? How can your current habits and actions be modified so that they align with the new version of yourself? Dream big. Because only big dream will lead to big success. You may want to check out the 4 effective ways to make your success a reality.
Be proud
Be honest with yourself: It’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can work on improving them, but it’s also important not to let this get in the way of having confidence in yourself. Stop Letting the Voice in Your Head Trick Your Brain. Something comes easily for other people but is difficult for you, don’t assume that means there is something wrong with your ability or intelligence; instead focus on building upon those areas where others struggle more than yourself.
Over to you
Society plays a big part in how we view ourselves. The public image is important, but no more than the self-image. It’s not just about how others see us; it’s about how we see ourselves as well.
About the author
Christine Cheung has received over 200 hours of life coach-specific training. Christine is known for inspiring, empowering, and supporting people in developing skills and strategies to get “unstuck” from their current situation so they can reach their desired outcome using the framework and techniques drawn from Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Habit Change theory, the Law of Attraction, and art therapy.
Aside from coaching, Christine Cheung is a public speaker, a group facilitator, and an online course instructor.
Looking for a deeper conversation, book a FREE Discovery Call with her, or email christine.cheung@outlook.com
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If you like this article, you may want to check out these 16 Empowering Messages.
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