You are what you think you are. And, what you think you are is what you will project to the world. Have you ever noticed that some folks get the “Hey, you” treatment while others get the “Yes, Ma’am” respect. Why is this? Some folks simply project confidence, poise and assurance while others do not. It is often the case that those who present themselves well are also the most successful.
What is the explanation for this? One word makes the difference: thinking. Thoughts are things and thinking does make things so. You may remember Shakespeare’s words” “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” The same is true about how you think of yourself.
You will usually receive the kind of treatment that you think you deserve. On the other hand, you are responsible for teaching others how to treat you. If you think you are not good enough, you will project this and allow others to treat you in disrespectful ways. You may resent it. It may make you angry, however, you allow it because you may think you deserve it at some level.
Why not do this differently? Step out with your best self in mind. Know that you are important. If you were not here, there would be an empty space. Take your place. Take up your space and know that you deserve love, respect, attention and acceptance just because you breathe. Of course, if you persist in doing things that teach others that this is not so, you cannot be surprised if they have a different perception of you, can you?
How you think determines how you act. How you act in turn determines how others react to you. It is a simple formula. Look where it starts, though. It starts with how you think. To gain the respect of others, you must first think you deserve respect. The more respect you have for yourself, the more respect others will have for you.
Self-respect is demonstrated by everything you do. Dress well. Your appearance broadcasts how you feel about yourself. Lift your spirits by taking time to look good. No matter how many casual Fridays the work world allows, be sure that you dress in a way that keeps your mind and attitude “thinking sharp”. Why do you think the armed services pay so much attention to the details of dressing? Stay sharp.
Your appearance talks to you and it talks to others. You know the line: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. First impressions last far longer than it takes to make one! Start your day with a good impression of yourself. You are what you think you are. What are you projecting?
Remember: what you pay attention to expands!
C Rhoberta Shaler, PhD All rights reserved worldwide.
International speaker, coach, author & talk radio host,
Rhoberta Shaler, PhD, is an expert motivator. She gives you
the strategies and motivation to shift your results from
acceptable to EXCEPTIONAL in life and business. Subscribe to
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