How to Present Your Authentic Self
Do you walk your talk? Is the image you portray to the world in line with the real you? Does your image work for you? People make assumptions about you based on your appearance, attitude, and the words you choose.How you present matters. Ask yourself these questions:Present yourself in a way that depicts your values. It’s disconcerting to people when they can’t quite figure you out.
- “She says she’s a Christian but drinks all the time and lives a way that doesn’t align with her supposed beliefs
- She claims that she is a risk-taker, but has been stuck in the same low-paying job that she can’t stand for the last 10 years.
When the image you present to the world clearly isn’t accurate, it raises a lot of red flags, and others won’t trust you. When your image doesn’t fit the situation, it also causes concern.
What does the image you present say about you?
- Be realistic regarding the situation. If you’re going to a job interview, it’s not really the right time to wear your ripped jeans or to curse like a sailor. That might be the image that makes you the most comfortable, but it’s creating challenges for you in certain situations. The right clothing, vocabulary, and attitude will vary with the situation. You do not want to be viewed as a constantly changing chameleon, but there are things that just won’t work in certain situations.
- Know what matters to you. Your values are an important part of developing the image you present to the world. Are freedom and rejecting social norms part of your value system? Adventure? Money? Helping others?
- Understand what it means when your true-self and your image are incongruent. It means that you’re trying to present yourself as something you’re not. You’re not happy with your reality, so you’re pretending to be something else.
When your true-self and your image match, it puts people at ease. You’re more likeable when you’re congruent. Think about the most likeable people you know. You know exactly who they are within a short time.Think about how you present yourself to the world. Are you making your life easier or more challenging?
