I believe that people perceive themselves differently than others do. I have found that people tend to be much more critical about their own flaws or differences than they are about other peoples’ flaws. For example, two girls who weigh about the same about will think that they personally are fat, but the other similar girl is not. But in reality, the both weigh the same or wear the same pants size and the only thing that differs is how they perceive themselves. I think that putting effort in your presenting self can help improve your confidence level. Personally, I feel better about my presenting self, when I treat myself to a new cute top or take the time to tame my mane of hair. I really think that the way we perceive others and the world all comes down to our own attitude. If you are going to look for the negative parts of yourself, you are going to find them, just as you would find the positive parts of your perceived self if you look for them. Perception is a powerful tool that can affect a person’s entire world. Perception is also something that we can attempt to change or control in order to make ourselves happier within in our own skin. My perceived self is very self conscious about saying the wrong thing to new acquaintances and I used to constantly rehearse conversations in my head in order to insure that what I said could only have one perceived meaning. People will always perceive situations differently than us, because we are all different, and once you change your perception of the world, the world becomes what you want it to be.
Have you ever been in a situation where you said something that you meant one way, but someone else perceived it as meaning something completely different? How did it make you feel?
Yes, I have been in this situation more than I would have liked to be. I have said something and one of my friends has took it as I was mad, or another emotion when I really meant something totally different. I sort of felt bad because they thought that I was mad (or another emotion) when really, it was not anything close to that.
ReplyDeleteI have been in that situation before. I am a very sarcastic person, and I told one of my really good friends that I did not want to hang out that day because I had better things to do (I was completly kidding). She has known me forever so I assumed she would take it as a joke like she usually does, but apparently she was having a bad day and she took it personally and got mad at me for a week, after I appologized and explained myself a million times. I now am very careful at what I say to my friends
ReplyDeleteI have had this happen a few times. One being with one of my really good friends who took it completely the wrong way. They would not talk to me for at least 2 weeks. After a couple of apologies they finally got over it and since this experience I have been a lot more careful about what I say to others.
ReplyDeleteI have had a situation that is much like one of these. My mom is a very sensitive person. I remember a few years back when she said something to me I responded with the comment "shut up". I have never said that before but when i did she thought i was truly being hurtful. I had to explain to her that she had perceived that comment as being hurtful when i really just say it to my friends not meaning it to be mean. Sometimes words just slip out and since then I have had to remember not to say that around my mom again.
ReplyDeleteI have been in a situtation like that before. I think it happens more often than people want it to. Especially now with texting words can be preceived the total opposite way that you want them to because when texting you cant hear the sacrasim or the criticism, its all based on plain text. It really sucks when something you say is preceived into something completely different.
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