It’s The Looks For Me
You’ve probably been there too; a lot of us have been exposed to situations where people did not expect much from us because of how we looked at the point. We’ve also encountered situations where people overestimated our capacity because of how we looked.
The former often meets us with a sting of disappointment and maybe anger towards the parties involved. The latter would either boost our confidence or anxiety depending on the situation or the expectations that come with it.
However, this coin can be flipped without denial, we have also encountered situations where we defined and related with people based on how they looked. Did they fit into our criteria for being “approachable or fit for our friendship”?
While looks play an active role in the decisions we have to make towards people, I believe that there’s a lot more to be considered in the equation.
Often, we dish out a major backlash on those who have underestimated us because we did not look like what we were capable of then go ahead to tip the scale a little when we give out the same prejudice we deem unfair.
We are more than our looks
Discerning people by looks alone would have you miss various opportunities where you would have been positively impacted by them. The preconceived notion that they have nothing to offer could just be the reason you got nothing.
Understanding that people are a lot more than looks will open your mind to the value they are capable of adding to your life. This could be in form of valuable lessons to help you advance in your journey through life, support from awesome relationships you would have missed, back up in moments where you really needed a friend, the list goes on.
Yes, there are moments when instincts protect us from making mistakes and on these occasions, genuine instincts not based on prejudice should not be ignored.
Some of us have so much potential that the scorn and judgment of others have forced us to keep within. All we ever needed was a chance to reveal that we were capable of so much more, all we needed was someone to believe that we could deliver; all we needed was someone to see the people behind the faces.
Going forward
Of course, this does not mean you dive right into relationships without a proper observation or assessment of the person’s values and personality traits.
While some people genuinely go out to be a blessing, others are bent on doing the worse. Friendships and other relationships should neither be forced nor rushed but should come naturally.
What if you find yourself as the object of such prejudice?
There is very little you can do for people who already believe you have nothing to offer as long as they choose to maintain the mindset. Although proving them wrong is not impossible, the focus of your life should not be to prove that people were wrong or right about you. Simply keep being who you are. Work on yourself if there are areas you need to improve on because your personal growth is an important aspect of your life.
It is also very important that you realize this — the core of your identity should not be what people think when they see you. Always, it should come from within — the realization that you’ve got substance, that you are valuable and the world is blessed to have you in it.
