Image is a broad word even though actually it’s a small word. Our self-image is the one we have about ourselves in our minds. Image is another word for impression. It is a mental picture of us that we leave in the minds of others. We often face trouble giving out the right message about ourselves to people through our body language, our clothes, and the way we behave, the way we respond to things and so on.
We humans are visual beings. We love to watch a movie of the book we can avoid reading. (some might call that being lazy.)
Ditto for our self-image. If we don’t think we look or feel good about ourselves, how will others feel good about us?
Here are a few steps to having a great self-image about you:
- Deal with your WORK UPONS
Pull a sheet of paper and list all your shortcomings, (no, you not passing a candy crush level doesn’t count) and label the paper as –“Work-upon”. There is nothing in this world that you cannot do if you put your mind to it. You are what you think you are, so start working on it! - Take 100% responsibility of your life
All the events that happen in your life – good and bad, take responsibility of them. This gets you to be bolder and makes you introspect constantly about your actions as you are answerable to yourself. - Take charge of your visual communication via grooming
Give up all your excuses of overeating/lazing around / “I will do it when the time is right” / “it’s ok I can wear this, who’s going to see me”. The way you look affects the way you think, which then affects the way you feel. The way you feel is the way you act, or behave, and the way we act is the way others respond to us. Don’t slack on your outfits or grooming its 80% visual communication to all around you. - If you don’t like your outcomes, change your responses.
Sometimes there is nothing you can do about a situation but you can change your response to it . Eg . if you are stuck in a traffic jam you have 2 options – one is go out there and guide the traffic (not recommended if you don’t know a few cops in Mumbai) or second think of better things to do in the car besides cribbing. (playing with your cell phone doesn’t count as a thing-to-do) Always get the best out of a situation. Your thoughts will surprise you and you will be in a practice at looking at the brighter side of life! - Stop complaining about yourself.
Did you ever think why do we complain? That is cause we know that something better exists – a better you!
And I end with a thought to take you through the week –
“Your progress in life begins in your own mind and ends in your own head.”
