Has anyone ever impressed you when you met them for the very first time? Has anyone ever annoyed you in the first meeting without your even getting to know them? Yes?
Well, that is exactly how you also make impressions upon others.
The image you project about yourself is the first thing that is visible to the world. And, that is what either makes or breaks your impressions.
Have you ever noticed this? If yes, you know what projected image is. If no, then you should know what image projection is all about.
Image Grooming is all about cultivating the image of yourself, which you wish to show to the world.
For this –
- You need to know your image, which you are currently showing to the world. This is what the world sees you presently as.
- And, you also need to know your image, which you ultimately wish to show to the world. This is what you want the world to see you as.
If you know the above two, the journey of your Image Grooming would be a smooth one.
But, most people do not seem to know the image, which they are presently showing to the world. Why else would they indulge in behaviors, which range from mildly annoying to outright disgusting?
Our image, which the world sees us as is a combination of many of our habits. These habits all come together and make up our personality. And the world sees this concoction, and like it or not, judges us too on this image.
Before long, our entire reputation is dependent upon this image. An image once set becomes firmly and deeply embedded in public memory. People around us remember us by the image we send out.
Research has found that like other elements of our existence, image projection is also a habit.
We just continue to keep repeating our habitual behaviors. And thus, continue to keep showing the same image of ourselves to the world day after day, month after month, and even year after year.
- Do you find that you are always hanging out with the same people day in and day out?
- Do you find that you are constantly looking for new people to hang out with?
- Do you feel an uncomfortable emptiness during and after participating in a gathering of new people?
- Do you feel a lack of confidence even if you have good achievements to show?
- Do you feel overly confident all the time, even if you hardly have any achievements to show?
Do you really know what image you are presently and habitually projecting to the world? Just think deeply about the following questions:
If your answer to any of the above questions is yes, then there are high chances that you are confused about the image you show to the world.
This is an indication of conflict between your inner mental image and outer projected image. And, it may be time for you to think deeply about changing your projected image.
Here are Five Powerful Reasons Why You need Image Grooming:
1) Your Image Governs All Your Results:
Mankind has always been tremendously intrigued by the study of success. What makes a person successful? Why some people are more successful than the others? Even, what is the real definition of success? These are the elements on which most motivational materials are based…and the quest continues.
So far no one has been able to clearly nail down all the ingredients that actually make a person successful.
But, the image you project to others is what creates your impressions upon their minds. And this is what starts you on the road to achieving certain results, hopefully desirable ones.
2) Your Image Establishes Your Reputation:
People judge you with your image and then propagate their judgment forward. Actually, we all judge others all the time; even if for the sake of appearing “cool” we say that we don’t.
Many times the people who judge you on your image can be in powerful positions and can have a direct impact on your personal and professional results.
3) Your Image Makes You Memorable:
Human memory can be tricky. It records everything. Nothing actually escapes it. But it remembers things only in snippets.
Things which are remembered are generally out of the ordinary. People who are remembered are generally out of the ordinary.
Test this for yourself. Are you generally remembered by the people you meet fleetingly? Or, do you feel like you blend in the scenery, and crave memorability from others?
The image you project creates the memory impact you make or fail to make on others.
4) Your Image Affects Your Relationships:
Well, this is a done thing. Isn’t it? Have you ever seen any annoying relatives or colleagues? Then you get my drift.
But, do you also know what image you cast in the minds of others? Do others think of you as annoying too? Well, that’s a million dollar question, which only few ever really get down to answering honestly
5) Your Image Travels Farther Than Your Actual Physical Reach:
Social media has given a platform to all users to project their image in unlimited ways. The reach of your image has gone much farther than you can even think about through social media. It is now quite a common practice for employers to check out the social media presence of their prospective employees. So when you don’t hear from a prospective employer, the reason may have something to do with your social media image
6) Your Image is Never Discussed with You Openly:
This is the trickiest one. No one will ever tell you honestly what image you show to the world. Be sure, even your close friends will not. Yet almost everyone will base their impressions about you on your image. This is a fact.
So, it is better to understand your projected image yourself and become your own best guide.
Understanding the image you project is a good place to start to get to know yourself. You will be surprised how much you get to know about others too along the way.
