Have you ever wondered why our society has become so
lax? Why is it perfectly acceptable these
days to run around in tracksuits, peppering our language with slang and
offensive terminology, basking in our lack of elegance and refinement while
offering our middle finger to anyone who doesn’t like our loud-and-proud
attitude? Like or leave it, someone once
told me.
I don’t like it, and I just can’t leave it.
For you see, my friend, we’ve got a full-force ripple effect
happening. Our croc-wearing, tattoo-bearing,
attempts-at-daring affect others. Kids
today are unfamiliar with the term ‘dressing for the occasion’ because they’ve
never witnessed it. Recent college grads
who grew up with a grand sense of entitlement don’t understand why their
multi-piercings are keeping them from landing a job. Women of ‘a certain age’ don’t understand why
their bawdiness has yet to attract the perfect partner. “I mean, it worked for the gals in Sex In The City, why isn’t it working
for me?” they ask.
Like it or not, we are judged by how we communicate, and we
communicate through many different avenues each day: the words we speak, the clothes we wear, our
manners, our mannerisms – I could go on.
It’s the Total Package Effect and
I speak to so many women about it: you
can look great, but if you don’t speak greatly or act greatly, others will not
perceive you as great.
So my question today is this: what, exactly, are you trying to communicate? If you desire attracting certain people or
situations into your life and you’ve yet to manifest them, you’re image could
be holding you back.
I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times.
One’s image plays a significant role in her overall success,
both professionally and personally.
I think a key element that leads to an ‘image downfall’ is
the acceptance of the status quo. No one
else dresses up for church, so why should I? Everybody enjoys fast-food on a
regular basis, so why shouldn’t I? Everyone else watches garbage on Television,
so why shouldn’t I (side note: garbage
in, garbage out. I learned that a long
time ago, and it’s very true. Think
about it.)
Because it leads to stasis, and a lifestyle in stasis is a
lifestyle in crises.
We should all strive each day not only to look our best, but
to speak our best and BE our best. We’ve
got to get over this weird ‘let’s just be comfortable and let it all hang out’
mentality and take ownership of our lives and our image. We must recognize that our choices affect
others – and not necessarily in a good way.
We’ve got to get over our laziness and stop accepting things
that simply shouldn’t be acceptable. If
not, I shudder to think of the fruit the upcoming generation will bear. They’re looking to us and following our lead,
so if we want better for them, we must be better ourselves.
Be the change you want
to see in the world – Gandhi
What is it you’d like to see?
Beth Newman
Image Consultant, Mentor, Author
ps...I've got a new e-course starting next week. It's called Your Image and You: Who Do You Think You Are? For details go to http://newmanimage.info/In_The_News_.html
