Image? How much does others' perception of us match our view of ourselves?
Listed in the Beliefs category.
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Listed in the Beliefs category.
Terms Of Use | Code Of Conduct | FAQ | Site Map | Contact Us | The Store
Licensed by ASCAP, BMI & The MCPS-PRS Alliance
© 2008 SingSnap
Posted by peachygurlADMIN on July 22, 2008 at 8:12 PM
I'm of the view that everyone has beliefs. They may not be of a spiritual nature. They may be of a spiritual nature. They may be temporal in orientation. They may not be temporal in orientation. It does not matter. Everyone believes something.
My question is pretty simple. Do you believe/ think/ feel how you present yourself reflects your beliefs? If so, do you believe others see you as you desire to be perceived? If the answer to either question is no, why?
Part two of this question. Do you find it challenging to accept what someone says if you find the way they present themselves does not align with your perception of what they state they believe? Why or why not?
So many questions. So little time.
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Reply by Sum_Southern_Sugar on July 22, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Oh - Good questions Peachster.
But, simple? Noooooooo way!
I do present myself true to my beliefs. As some of you may have seen, that isn't always the popular or PC way to do things, but I don't sugar coat. Costs me sometimes, but I accept that.
I don't know how others perceive me, but I seem to have quite a few pals here, so I would guess, mostly pretty well.
Part Two - Yes, I do. I often have a notion in my mind about just exactly 'what' a particular person stands for, and when I read a comment by that person, I 'read' my own pre-conceived notions into it, which are often wrong. With practice, I am getting a little better at not doing that, I hope. :-)
Except for like ten minutes ago, I mean :-)
oh, btw, Hi Monique :-)
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Reply by scarlettohallGOLD on July 22, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Very Good Questions!
I think pretty much how I present myself reflects my beliefs. Although, I sometimes feel as if I should do a better job of it; I feel as if I fail a lot. I really don't know how people see me.
Yes, I find it challenging to accept what someone says when they say one thing and act complete opposite. Why? It"s just like the old saying "If you"re gonna talk the talk you"d better walk the walk"
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Reply by peachygurlADMIN on July 22, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Didn't say the answers were simple Sugga Daddy. Said the questions were. LOL
TY for your candor. I do look for your replies to posts for many reasons. One of them is that like you said, you do not sugar coat. Even if you are Sum_Southern_Sugar. :-)
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Reply by Sum_Southern_Sugar on July 22, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Oh - Simple questions - difficult answers - ur tricky!
And to wander ever so slightly off topic, which of course, I always do.
How I perceive Jo -
She has firm beliefs and sticks to em, but does not look down on others for having different beliefs. :-)
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Reply by Arizonagal on July 22, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I just have one thing to say on this subject...
Ahahahaha! Sorry peachy...ya owe me one. ;)
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Reply by Monique on July 22, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Sug is such a smart alec. You knew I'd be here tho, I'll give ya that. ;)
Do you believe/ think/ feel how you present yourself reflects your beliefs? If so, do you believe others see you as you desire to be perceived? If the answer to either question is no, why?
Yes, I do think what I say (most of the time) reflects my beliefs. I do have lapses where my mouth gets ahead of my brain and I usually regret those instances pretty quickly.
I have no idea how others perceive me, but I'll hesitate a guess that my convictions come across as my being judgmental. Do I desire to be perceived that way? Of course not. But political correctness and religion aren't all that combatible. So if the politcally correct thing to say isn't what jibes with my beliefs, I'll always have to say what I believe.
Part two of this question. Do you find it challenging to accept what someone says if you find the way they present themselves does not align with your perception of what they state they believe? Why or why not?
Yes, I find it not only challenging, I find it downright next- to- impossible. Why? Hm, that's tougher to answer. I've just never been one to abide by the "do as I say, not as I do". If I tried to tell my kids not to smoke (drink, whatever..) yet said it with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth, I'd lose all credibility. Same as if I had a pastor that preached morals, etc, then I found out he had been stealing from the church. I wouldn't be going back to hear him preach.
Boy Peachy, you ask some tough ones!
edited 'cause I can't spell!
Edited on July 22, 2008 at 10:45 PM Quote
Reply by Monique on July 22, 2008 at 10:41 PM
And Jo, I can only speak for myself. I perceive you as one of the most genuine Christians I've ever met. You present yourself very, very well.
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Reply by peachygurlADMIN on July 22, 2008 at 11:28 PM
LOL @ Ari. I once again can say we agree. You do love being right. Doesn't matter if you are or not as long as you think you are, that's amoré. LOL
Seems these questions are tougher than I thought.
I too think our beliefs are reflected in our behaviors. If they were not, why have beliefs in the first place? That does not for one nanosecond mean we always meet the standards we set as ideals. They are targets to strive for.
Do I think my beliefs are reflected in my behaviors? Ummmm.... most of the time. I have lapses like everyone where I behave in a manner that is the antithesis of what I believe. Like when I do lose my cool over something trivial. ACK! Not my belief at all but I do it. Do I endeavor to eliminate those kinds of conflicting messages between what I believe and how I act? Darn tooting I do! Do I succeed? Part of the time and I suck at the rest of the time.
Part two of the question is do I find it a challenge to accept what someone says when their behavior does not match my perception of their beliefs. OH MY! Can I shout YES loud enough? As much as I work at not being judgmental, I am. I take my perception of an individual's beliefs and use that as the comparative of their actions. Should be the other way around but I don't have that mastered yet. I should take their actions and accept those and THEN let their beliefs become manifest. Maybe one day I will get turned in the right direction. I sure do keep trying.
The implied part of this question that nobody has touched on is the separation of beliefs from behavior and that they actually are two distinct things. How well a person can align the two is a huge indicator of that individual's satisfaction with themselves and with the universe at large. Of course this is my opinion and we all know what body part opinions are like. Yeppers, some are stinkier than others and some work better than others. ;-)
Edited on July 22, 2008 at 11:35 PM Quote
Reply by Monique on July 22, 2008 at 11:30 PM
You do have a way with words Peachy. :)
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Reply by peachygurlADMIN on July 22, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Oh and I do work really hard at being honest but not cruel. Don't have that one mastered yet either. UGH! Maybe some day.
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Reply by Arizonagal on July 23, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I think everyone likes to be right, peachy. ;)
What matters to me isn't so much what other people think of me, it's what I think of myself. Am I happy in my own skin? Do I like myself? Am I a good person? Is my conscience clear?
It's very difficult to perceive what a person is all about on a message board or in a chatroom. The only honest evaluation is in meeting and getting to know the person in reality.
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Reply by Hotstepper on July 23, 2008 at 12:36 AM
The thing I love about boards is that people tend to skip small talk and go right to the heart of matters. Sometimes I think I know people BETTER on msg boards because of that. The same subjects just don't get brought up very often in real life. Not anymore, anyway. *sigh*
I'm often surprised when I find out how people see me. I have one good friend from high school. She was out of my life for about 17 years, and when I moved we rekindled our friendship. It was refreshing. I have changed SO MUCH since my school years. People now-a-days are very surprised to find out that I am shy I am and I often feel misunderstood. I have LEARNED to be social (literally - two degrees in theatre. I use my mask all the time - not to lie, but as a way to function socially without being a total spaz about it). I was painfully shy and easy to intimidate in high school. My friend reminded me of how much abuse I would take rather than stand up for myself.
So I was surprised when one of my friends called me intimidating. I'm surprised when people say I'm confident. I'm not. I have always had a love/hate relationship with people - love them so much, hate what they do to each other. I like attention as much as the next person, but I hate feeling self conscious about that attention.
Ya...
idk. I've never been to me.
I wouldn't say my behavior is completely out of whack with how I feel I should act - wish I had more control over my emotional states, but all in all I do all right about it.
And the second question - I'm not sure if I understand it - if a person's beliefs are in contrast to their behavior? If it's to the point that it's hypocritical...well, I guess it would depend on if the behavior were kind.
Edited on July 23, 2008 at 12:45 AM Quote
Reply by Sum_Southern_Sugar on July 23, 2008 at 5:57 AM
Well, let's see here.
Aligning behavior with beliefs.
I'd have to say that there are quite likely very few that do that perfectly. But those that come to mind, that do it best, are folks that have considered and put in place their 'own personal' belief system. Not some set of rules they were fed by folks, although if they honestly 'feel' those rules, that's cool too.
Christians for instance. I think most would admit that even they sin sometimes (break the rules they were given to follow), and that isn't a diss, just reality I think.
So, if I follow the Christian rules that I pick and choose as the ones I believe in, it's easier for me to fit my behavior to my beliefs. But then, I'm really just lowering the bar so it is easier to get over, right?
Tricky stuff.
Edited on July 23, 2008 at 6:01 AM Quote